The USA’s women’s hockey team have turned down President Trump’s offer to join their male counterparts at the State of the Union on Tuesday night.
Both gold medal-winning teams have been invited to the event by the President after their stunning triumphs in Italy but it now appears that only the men will be there.
‘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 was quoted as saying by NBC.
‘They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.’
They will not be attending, however, ‘due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments’.
The women’s team won their gold before the men but Trump only extended his invitation when the men beat Canada 2-1 in overtime on Sunday, saying he’d be impeached if he didn’t include the women’s team too.
Donald Trump will not be joined by USA’s women’s hockey team for the State of the Union
The American women also clinched gold before the men at the Winter Olympics
On a call to the men’s team in their locker room in Milan, Trump said: ‘I can send a military plane or something. If you would like to, it’s the coolest night.
‘We will do the White House the next day, we will just have some fun, we have medals for you guys.’
He added: ‘We have, I must tell you, we are going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that. I do believe I would probably be impeached (if he didn’t invite them).’
The men’s team immediately accepted Trump’s offer to join, with some laughing at his joke about impeachment.
Lexi LaFleur Brown, the wife of former NHL star JT Brown and hockey novelist, led the backlash as she highlighted the female athletes’ achievement in the face of the obstacles they have overcome in their careers.
‘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 meda.
‘Every woman knows this feeling & it’s why we persist. Keep laughing while women’s hockey is one of the fastest-growing sports globally.’
Megan Keller celebrates her gold medal on the ice at the Winter Games last week
There were many fans, however, who didn’t agree with the move by the women’s team and felt they should have cleared their schedule to accept Trump’s offer.
‘If the PRESIDENT personnely invite’s (sic) you to the STATE OF THE UNION then guess what??? YOU GO,’ one fan wrote on X.
‘If you’re grateful like you say you are than YOU GO. I will never watch any of these so called player’s (sic) ever again after how badly they have treated President Trump. I won’t forget.’
Another commented: ‘The men all have NHL squads to return to, and they’re attending. USA hockey should just say “the women are disappointed in the President’s behaviour and have no interest in meeting him.” Be as honest to him as he is to everyone else.’
A different fan added: ‘How many times do these women think they will receive a presidential invitation to attend a SOTU address? Regrettable decision.’
Trump was said to be considering a trip to Italy to watch the final but ultimately decided against it.
Jack Hughes was praised for his patriotic interview after the USA beat Canada on Sunday
Kash Patel was in Milan for Sunday’s final and he headed into the locker room to join in the celebrations, with a video appearing to show the FBI director chugging a beer and partying with the players.
Trump also said in his call to the men’s team: ‘I’m going to shake hands with everybody, but I’ve got to shake hands with that goalie.’
Connor Hellebuyck put in a stunning performance, saving 41 of 42 shots to keep Canada at bay in Sunday’s final.
Jack Hughes scored the winning goal in overtime to beat Canada and gave an emotional and patriotic interview moments after clinching gold.
‘This is all about our country right now,’ he said. ‘This is all about our country. I love the USA. I love my teammates… I’m so proud to be an American today.
‘That’s a great Canadian team, but we’re USA, we’re so proud to be Americans, tonight was all for the country.
‘It’s everything, the USA hockey brotherhood means so much, we’re such a team, we’ve been together for two weeks, but we’re such a team. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong, and we’re so proud to win for our country.’
United States goalie Connor Hellebuyck was singled out for praise by Trump
The footage caught the attention of vice president JD Vance, who praised Hughes for his message and for also talking despite losing teeth on the ice during the game.
Vance wrote on X: ‘Heart full of pride for his country and a few front teeth gone missing.
‘That’s American hockey right there. Congratulations to Jack and everyone on Team USA for bringing home the gold.’