US hockey star Brady Tkachuk hits out at ‘clearly fake’ White House AI videoA US ice hockey gold medallist has dxenied making derogatory comments after the White House posted an AI-doctored video viewed 11 million times.Benedict Brook in the US2 min readFebruary 28, 2026 - 5:17AMA gold medal winning US ice hockey player has pushed back after the White House posted an AI doctored video of him denigrating Canada. The US beat Canada 2-1 to win the men’s gold at the Milan-Cortina games.Brady Tkachuk, an American who captains Canadian hockey team the Ottawa Senators, said the video was “clearly fake”.The video posted to the White House’s official TikTok account appears to show Tkachuk answering a question in a post-match press conference. “They booed our national anthem, so I had to come out and teach those maple syrup eating f***** a lesson,” he appears to say in reference to beating Canada.The post says it contains “AI generated media”. However, given it is 45 seconds long and contains various clips – including of real icechockey matches – it wouldn’t be clear which part was AI. Certainly many people commenting thought Tkachuk’s words were real. It has been viewed 11 million times. Brady Tkachuk of Team United States celebrates winning the gold medals after the team's 2-1 overtime victory in the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)‘Clearly fake’Tkachuk was at pains to say that was not the case when asked about the clip. “It’s clearly fake because it’s not my voice, not my lips moving,” he said in the Canadian capital city of Ottawa.“I’m not in control of any of those accounts. I know that those words would never come out of my mouth.”Tkachuk said he didn’t like the video. “It’s not my voice. It’s not what I was saying.“I would never say that. That’s not who I am, so I guess I don’t like that video because that would never come out of my mouth, and never had that thought.” The White House has not commented.Members of the United States Olympic men’s ice hockey team are seen in the gallery as US President Trump delivers the 2026 State of the Union address on February 24, 2026. (Photo by Kenny HOLSTON / POOL / AFP)Tkachuk also denied he was the person who shouted “close the northern border” which was heard on a video when Donald Trump phoned the team to congratulate them on their win. “I’ve been seeing stuff that people think it’s me. But if you watch the video, it’s not my voice.“I don’t know how that took a storm on its own when I give everything I have here,” he said referring to Canada where he has played his entire career.“It’s crazy when things go on social media, how fast they go. I would never say anything like that.”Brady Tkachuk, Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes attend a celebration of the USA men's ice hockey team's Olympic gold at E11EVEN Miami on February 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)The US men’s ice hockey team has been mired in controversy due to the US president’s call to the team. He invited the male players to the White House but then joked he would “have to” – seemingly grudgingly – invite the women’s team as well or he would “probably be impeached”.A number of the male players laughed after Mr Trump’s comments. The US women’s hockey team also won gold at the Olympics. It’s not clear if Mr Trump called the women to congratulate them. Unlike the men’s team, the medal winning women’s team did not go to the White House. On Wednesday, Hilary Knight from the women’s team, said the joke was “distasteful” and had overshadowed both teams’ wins. Tkachuk said the men’s team was “caught off guard” by Mr Trump’s remarks. “It’s a whirlwind of a moment. You can’t control what somebody says. “I guess got caught off guard a little bit. You’re talking to the president 10 minutes after you achieve your dream.”More related storiesWinter OlympicsBroken leg won’t stop Games legend’s 20-year comebackEven as he wondered if he could heal a broken leg mentally just weeks before the Paralympics, Australian great Michael Milton was not interested in giving up on an audacious comeback at 52.Read moreParalympicsSwim, cycle, snowboard? Reid‘s unusual Paralympic triathlonHaving already competed in two Paralympic sports at the summer games, Amanda Reid has overcome injury to take her place in the Australian snowboard team at Milano Cortina.Read moreWinter OlympicsStar’s offer after team decline Trump inviteThe USA women’s ice hockey team have declined an invite to the White House amid Donald Trump’s controversial phone call to the men’s team.Read more