Fresh off leading Team USA to Olympic gold, captain Brady Tkachuk finds himself in an unexpected controversy—not on the ice, but in the digital realm of political social media. The Ottawa Senators star is firing back against a White House-produced video that used artificial intelligence to put words in his mouth that he insists he would never say.
Fabricated Feud Goes Viral
The dispute stems from a video posted on the official White House TikTok account celebrating the American men's hockey team's victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan. The clip featured footage of Brady and his brother Matthew Tkachuk at a press conference, set to the classic rock anthem "Free Bird." The video then transitioned to what appeared to be Brady Tkachuk delivering a profanity-laced taunt directed at Canadian fans.
"They booed our national anthem, so I had to come out and teach those maple syrup eating f—s a lesson," the AI-generated voice claimed Tkachuk said.
Tkachuk Sets the Record Straight
On Thursday, the gold medalist addressed the fabricated footage with clear frustration. "Well, it's clearly fake, because it's not my voice, not my lips moving," Tkachuk told reporters via ESPN. "I'm not in control of any of those accounts. I know that those words would never come out of my mouth. So, I can't do anything about it."
The Team USA captain emphasized the disconnect between the AI creation and his actual character. "That's not who I am," he stated firmly. "So I guess I don't like that video because that would never come out of my mouth, and never had that thought."
The incident highlights growing concerns about AI's ability to create convincing but false representations of public figures, even in celebratory contexts. While the White House likely intended the video as playful rivalry banter, the use of fabricated dialogue crossed a line for the athlete involved.
Olympic Celebration Overshadowed
The controversy comes during what should be a pure celebration for Tkachuk and his teammates after achieving their dream of Olympic gold. The victory marked a historic moment for American hockey, with the Tkachuk brothers playing pivotal roles in defeating their northern rivals.
Photographs from the February 22nd gold medal game in Milan show the brothers embracing in celebration at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, a moment of genuine triumph now partially overshadowed by digital drama.
Presidential Comments Add Another Layer
Complicating the post-victory narrative further were comments from President Donald Trump during a congratulatory call to the men's team. During the conversation, Trump took an unexpected jab at the equally triumphant U.S. women's hockey team, which also captured gold in Milan.
"I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that," the president told the men's squad. "I do believe I probably would be impeached."
When asked about these remarks, Tkachuk appeared diplomatic but somewhat overwhelmed. "I don't really have an answer. It's a whirlwind of a moment," he said. "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."
The U.S. women's team has not yet announced whether they'll visit the White House, while the men's team attended the president's State of the Union address earlier this week. The dual controversies—AI fabrication and presidential commentary—have created an unusual post-Olympic storyline for athletes who expected to bask in their hard-earned glory without digital or political complications.
