The US men's hockey team at the State of the Union showed proximity to Trump is never neutral

During Tuesday's State of the Union, Donald Trump welcomed members of the US men's national hockey team to the House gallery to chants of "U-S-A, U-S-A!". Trump revealed that Team USA's goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. "What special champions you are," Trump told the players, who had beaten Canada on Sunday in the gold medal game of the Winter Olympics.

In Trump's America, proximity is never neutral.

While the hockey players were greeted with warm applause from both Republicans and Democrats, Trump also had used the team as props in his speech. "Our country is winning again," Trump said just before he introduced them. "To prove that point, here with us tonight is a group of winners who just made the entire nation proud."