Leave it to the modern left to get upset when an American hero tells… a heroic American story.

Former Navy SEAL Robert J. O’Neill, one of the men involved in the 2011 mission that eliminated Osama bin Laden, delivered a pregame speech to Team USA before their World Baseball Classic quarterfinal matchup against Canada on Friday. The message was simple: patriotism, courage, and the power of teamwork. You know, the same values that built this country.

And guess what? It worked.

Team USA stepped onto the field and defeated Canada 5–3, punching their ticket to the semifinals after O’Neill’s motivational talk. Apparently hearing from someone who participated in one of the most decisive operations in modern American history can inspire a group of athletes to perform. Shocking, right?

But while the players were preparing to win, the outrage machine on left-wing social media was warming up. Critics immediately began complaining about the speech, claiming it had “pro-war messaging” and objecting to the idea that American values could be connected to military service.

Yes, really.

Some people online were apparently more offended by the story of the mission that took down the mastermind of 9/11 than they were inspired by it. Because in 2026, telling the story of American bravery is now somehow controversial to certain corners of the internet.

Fortunately, plenty of Americans weren’t buying the outrage.

Many users fired back, pointing out the obvious: O’Neill is an American hero speaking to athletes representing the United States. One user summed it up perfectly, writing that it’s “unfathomable” to see comment sections filled with people angry about an American hero sharing a heroic story with a team representing America. The same user added that the country has gone from the patriotic unity seen after 9/11 to a place where critics seem more comfortable sympathizing with the enemies of the United States than celebrating those who defended it.

And that’s the real story here.

While some online activists were busy complaining, Team USA was busy winning. A decorated Navy SEAL shared a story about courage and mission success, the team took that energy onto the field, and the result was a victory that sends them to the semifinals.

Turns out patriotism still motivates people — no matter how loudly a few critics on social media try to pretend otherwise.

And judging by the scoreboard, Team USA seems perfectly happy listening to American heroes.