US Women’s Hockey Team Declines President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Invite, Citing Scheduling Conflicts

The gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team has declined an invitation to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, citing prior academic and professional commitments following their championship run in Milan, Italy. The decision comes after Trump personally celebrated the U.S. men’s hockey team’s victory during a speakerphone call placed from their locker room, where he congratulated players and floated the idea of flying them to Washington, DC, aboard a military aircraft to attend Tuesday night’s speech. During the call facilitated by Kash Patel Trump also mentioned inviting the women’s team, joking that failing to do so might get him “impeached,” a remark that drew laughter from players but also sparked backlash on social media.

Both the men’s and women’s teams were formally invited to the address, according to a spokesperson for the women’s squad. However, the women’s team issued a statement expressing gratitude for the recognition while confirming they would not attend due to scheduling constraints tied to their return from the Winter Games.

“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,” the statement read, adding that previously arranged academic and professional responsibilities prevented participation. It remains unclear whether the men’s team will attend, as they were still traveling back to the United States at the time of reporting. The White House has not publicly commented further on the matter. Both American teams delivered dramatic overtime victories against Canada in their respective gold medal games, with the women securing a 2-1 win and the men following with their own 2-1 triumph. The men’s championship marked the program’s first Olympic gold since the historic 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” while the women added another title to their dominant modern-era legacy.

Notably, members of the women’s team previously visited the White House after winning gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang during Trump’s first term. This year, however, the team’s immediate return to competitive play appears to have taken precedence. The Professional Women’s Hockey League resumes its season this week, while the National Hockey League also restarts play, limiting downtime for athletes on both rosters.

Despite declining the invitation, the women emphasized appreciation for the acknowledgment of their achievement, signaling that the decision was logistical rather than political. As the State of the Union approaches, attention now shifts to whether the men’s team will appear at the address and how the president will highlight America’s dual hockey triumphs on the global stage.

The gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team has declined an invitation to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, citing prior academic and professional commitments following their championship run in Milan, Italy. The decision comes after Trump personally celebrated the U.S. men’s hockey team’s victory during a speakerphone call placed from their locker room, where he congratulated players and floated the idea of flying them to Washington, DC, aboard a military aircraft to attend Tuesday night’s speech.

During the call facilitated by Kash Patel Trump also mentioned inviting the women’s team, joking that failing to do so might get him “impeached,” a remark that drew laughter from players but also sparked backlash on social media. Both the men’s and women’s teams were formally invited to the address, according to a spokesperson for the women’s squad. However, the women’s team issued a statement expressing gratitude for the recognition while confirming they would not attend due to scheduling constraints tied to their return from the Winter Games.

“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,” the statement read, adding that previously arranged academic and professional responsibilities prevented participation. It remains unclear whether the men’s team will attend, as they were still traveling back to the United States at the time of reporting. The White House has not publicly commented further on the matter. Both American teams delivered dramatic overtime victories against Canada in their respective gold medal games, with the women securing a 2-1 win and the men following with their own 2-1 triumph. The men’s championship marked the program’s first Olympic gold since the historic 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” while the women added another title to their dominant modern-era legacy.

Notably, members of the women’s team previously visited the White House after winning gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang during Trump’s first term. This year, however, the team’s immediate return to competitive play appears to have taken precedence. The Professional Women’s Hockey League resumes its season this week, while the National Hockey League also restarts play, limiting downtime for athletes on both rosters.

Despite declining the invitation, the women emphasized appreciation for the acknowledgment of their achievement, signaling that the decision was logistical rather than political. As the State of the Union approaches, attention now shifts to whether the men’s team will appear at the address and how the president will highlight America’s dual hockey triumphs on the global stage.