The gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team has declined President Trump’s invitation to attend the State of the Union address, citing prior commitments. USA Hockey confirmed the decision in a formal statement, emphasizing scheduling conflicts rather than political motives. The development follows a historic Olympic victory for both the women’s and men’s teams.
A spokesperson for USA Hockey said the athletes were “sincerely grateful” for the invitation extended to the gold medal–winning team. The statement noted that the players had “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments” following the Games, making attendance at the State of the Union address impossible.
The spokesperson added that the athletes were honored to be recognized and expressed appreciation for the acknowledgment of their achievement. No political statement accompanied the announcement, and USA Hockey did not indicate any broader controversy tied to the decision.
The U.S. women secured gold after defeating Canada on Thursday in a hard-fought matchup. The victory marked a significant accomplishment on the Olympic stage and underscored the continued strength of American women’s athletics. Days later, the U.S. men’s hockey team clinched its own gold medal with a dramatic overtime win over Canada on Sunday.
Following the men’s victory, President Trump called into the team’s locker room to congratulate the players. The win marked the Americans’ first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since the legendary “Miracle on Ice” team triumphed at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
During his call with the men’s team, president trump invited them to attend the upcoming State of the Union address. He also made clear that the women’s team would receive the same invitation. At one point, he joked that failing to invite the women’s champions could lead to impeachment.
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” president trump said while addressing the men’s players. He added humorously that if he did not extend the invitation, “I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
While the women’s team will not attend the address due to scheduling conflicts, both teams’ Olympic victories stand as significant achievements for American sports. The recognition from the White House reflects the tradition of honoring championship teams, even as logistical realities sometimes prevent participation.
