USA women’s hockey team declines invite to White House, citing scheduling conflicts
The USA Olympic women’s hockey team declined President Donald Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union address on Monday, citing scheduling conflicts, after winning the gold medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games.
The men’s hockey team, which also took home gold after defeating Canada in overtime on Sunday, was also invited.
What USA hockey said
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” a USA Hockey spokesperson said. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.”
The spokesperson added that the women’s team was honored to be included and grateful for the acknowledgement.
According to the Associated Press, logistics played a significant role in the decision, with the women not scheduled to arrive in North America until Monday night. The men’s team arrived earlier on Monday via a chartered flight, while the women flew commercially later in the day.
Trump’s invitation
The decline comes after Trump invited the men’s team in a call on Sunday night after their overtime victory. He spoke to the team via FBI Director Kash Patel’s cellphone, who was inside the locker room celebrating with the team, a move that has drawn fierce criticism.
The men’s team enthusiastically accepted the invitation during the call with Trump.
The president also told the men he’d be extending an invitation to the women’s team, saying, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.”
The president joked that if he didn’t invite the women’s team, he believes he “probably would be impeached.”
The comment drew fierce backlash that is still circulating online, with some praising the women’s team for declining the invitation.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
