During a White House ceremony honoring the Florida Panthers' 2024 Stanley Cup victory, former President Donald Trump commended team owner Vincent Viola's leadership and military background, jokingly suggesting Viola should have overseen the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. The Panthers were the first sports team to visit the White House during Trump's second term.
Trump praised Viola, a U.S. Military Academy graduate and former 101st Airborne Division member, as a "true champion" with a deep passion for the military. The former president recounted Viola's advice on military matters, adding, "You know, we should have had you in Afghanistan instead of the characters we had. It would’ve turned out a little bit different."
The U.S. military presence in Afghanistan began in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, aiming to overthrow the Taliban regime and locate Osama bin Laden. The withdrawal of U.S. troops concluded in 2021 with a tragic suicide bombing at Kabul's airport, resulting in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghan civilians.
Viola was previously considered for the position of U.S. Army secretary during Trump's first term but withdrew his nomination.
Viola purchased the Florida Panthers in 2013. Since then, the team has seen significant success, reaching the playoffs six times, including five consecutive appearances from 2019-20 to 2023-24. They made it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023 but lost to the Vegas Golden Knights.
