The United States Olympic women’s hockey team, fresh off their gold-medal triumph, has turned down an invitation to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, citing scheduling conflicts.
The invitation followed Trump’s celebratory phone call to the U.S. men’s hockey team on Sunday, as they marked their historic Olympic victory.
During the call, the president even offered to send a military plane to bring them to Washington, D.C.
“We’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. I could send a military plane or something, if you would like to. It’s the coolest night. It’s the biggest speech,” Trump told the men, speaking over a speakerphone held by FBI Director Kash Patel in the locker room. The players responded with raucous cheers and shouts of “we’re in.”
Trump added, “I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team — you do know that.” When joking about the possibility of leaving them out, he said, “If they weren’t invited, I do believe I probably would be impeached, OK?”
The exchange, and the women’s reaction to it, drew widespread attention and criticism on social media.
While both the men’s and women’s teams received formal invitations to attend Tuesday’s address, a spokesperson for the women’s team confirmed that they would not participate.
“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.
“Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
The men’s team, returning from Italy, had not yet commented on whether they would attend. The White House also declined to respond to CNN’s request for comment.
Both U.S. hockey teams captured gold in thrilling matches against Canada—2-1 in overtime for the women on Thursday and 2-1 in overtime for the men on Sunday.
Jack Hughes, who scored the men’s game-winning goal, reflected on the women’s victory.
“The first person I thought of was Megan Keller,” said the New Jersey Devils center. “The first person I thought of was Megan Keller, who had the gold medal goal the other night. I saw her in the (cafeteria), and I just said how happy and proud I am of their group and that was one of my first thoughts, was her.”
With the Olympics behind them, the teams now return to their professional and collegiate duties. The Professional Women’s Hockey League resumes Thursday, while the National Hockey League restarts Wednesday.
The women’s team previously won Olympic gold in PyeongChang during Trump’s first term and were part of a White House celebration in April 2018. The men’s victory marked the first U.S. Olympic gold in men’s hockey since the famed 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
