US women's gold medal-winning team declines invitation from Trump to attend State of Union address
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
The US women's hockey gold medal-winning team has politely declined an invitation from US President Donald Trump to attend his State of the Union address on Tuesday (Wednesday NZT).
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning US Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” the US women's team said in a statement.
“Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honoured to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgement.”
It comes after Trump spoke about the women’s team in a phone call with the men in the wake of their gold medal triumph against Canada on Sunday.
During the call, which was recorded and posted online, Trump invited the “unbelievable” men’s team to his annual State of Union address and joked that he would also have to invite the women out of obligation.
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said, drawing roaring laughter from the team.
“I do believe I would probably be impeached”, Trump added, in reference to extending an invitation to the women, who also topped the podium in Italy.
Each US hockey team arrived in Miami on Monday.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of both teams.
“It’s been a whirlwind, it’s been amazing. It’s a dream of ours, it was such an amazing way to unite the country,” Matthew Tkachuk of the US men's team said after arriving back in Miami.
“We felt the support being across the Atlantic and now being back on home soil we could feel it the second the wheels hit the ground. So excited to be back in the greatest country in the world and so excited to celebrate.”
Tkachuk said it was an honour to hear from Trump after the win. “And so we are definitely honoured to represent him and the millions and millions across the country.”
However, the sight of the players laughing at Trump’s “misogynistic” joke has drawn a backlash from some hockey fans.
Lexi LaFleur Brown, a hockey novelist and the wife of former NHL star JT Brown, was among those to weigh in on the controversy.
“You can make history, can represent ur (sic) country at the highest level, can inspire a nation of girls to dream, & they will still laugh in ur (sic) face,” she wrote on social media. “Every woman knows this feeling & it’s why we persist. Keep laughing while women’s hockey is one of the fastest-growing sports globally.”
“I should have rooted for the Canadian men's hockey team. I'm not Canadian, but after Trump's call, I have more pride in that team winning silver than in this team winning gold,” writer Charlotte Clymer posted on the team’s reaction to Trump’s joke.
“Women from the USA dominated in the Winter Olympics, but the USA men's hockey team was filmed laughing at trump's grossly misogynistic joke degrading the accomplishments of women,” added Sarah Ironside.
“Congrats to the Olympics-winning US Women's Hockey Team for turning down Trump's invitation to the SOTU, after he made a disgustingly misogynist joke. Trump's been convicted of sexual assault and was close friends with Jeffrey Epstein: his hatred of women is long established,” said novelist and playwright Paul Rudnick.
But not everyone was critical of Trump or the men’s team’s behaviour, with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy suggesting that “Anybody who is mad about this video has a dump in their pants.”
“Talking to the President after winning Gold is as American as Apple Pie. Hockey twitter stays the softest group of crybabies who ever existed,” Portnoy added.
This story has been updated. It earlier said Trump mocked the women’s team. While some may interpret it that way the language was too strong.
– AP, with Stuff