The 2026 summer has taken Matthew and Brady Tkachuk well beyond the hockey world, with both brothers appearing at several major events after helping Team USA reach the top of the international stage. Their latest appearance came at a unique gathering that combined sports, politics, and entertainment at one of the most recognizable spots in the country.
As the event drew attention online, a Missouri senator made sure to acknowledge the hometown connection shared by the NHL stars.
Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt Gives Matthew and Brady Tkachuk a Public Shout-Out at UFC Freedom 250
Matthew and Brady Tkachuk were among the notable guests at UFC Freedom 250, an event held on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday, June 14, as part of the celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
The brothers drew attention during the festivities after conservative activist Ned Ryun shared a photo with them on X. Alongside the image, Ryun described a memorable interaction with the two NHL stars, writing, “Matthew and Brady Tkachuk were awesome. I asked to get a pic, and the next thing I know, they whipped out the gold and put it around my neck. Amazing.”
The post soon gained traction, and Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt joined the conversation with a short but meaningful reply. Schmitt responded, “St Louis boys!”
The comment highlighted the brothers’ Missouri roots and connected one of the state’s highest-profile political figures with two of its most recognizable athletes.
The interaction came just months after Matthew and Brady achieved one of the biggest milestones of their careers. During the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, the brothers helped Team USA capture a gold medal by defeating Canada in the championship game.
Matthew contributed leadership and playmaking throughout the tournament, while Brady added offense and physicality as the Americans secured a historic victory.
Their Olympic success also led to a White House visit earlier in the year. Following the gold-medal win, members of the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team met with President Trump in Washington. One of the most talked-about moments from that visit occurred when Matthew placed his Olympic gold medal around the president’s neck.
Trump joked, “I’m never… I’m not giving it back. I never thought I’d ever have this on my neck.”
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The brothers returned to White House grounds several months later for UFC Freedom 250, which attracted more than 4,000 spectators and featured a seven-fight card. The event was streamed live and included fighters making walkouts through the Oval Office, creating one of the most unusual settings in UFC history.
WWE superstar Roman Reigns also made it to the event, along with a series of big-name athletes.
