Women’s Hockey Team Rejects White House Invite After Trump ‘Joke’
The U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team has declined an invitation to the White House to celebrate their gold medal victory at the Winter Olympics, citing prior commitments. The decision comes after President Donald Trump invited both the men’s and women’s teams to his State of the Union address on , and subsequently joked that he would likely face impeachment if he didn’t extend the invitation to the women’s team.
A spokesperson for the team released a statement expressing gratitude for the invitation and acknowledging the recognition of their achievement. However, the statement explained that “due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.” The team emphasized they were “honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
The invitation followed the men’s team’s gold medal win over Canada in overtime, a result mirroring the women’s own victory against their Canadian rivals. President Trump reportedly called the men’s team in their locker room after the win, offering to fly them to Washington D.C. For the State of the Union address and a subsequent White House visit. During the call, held with FBI Director Kash Patel, Trump made the comment about potential impeachment if the women’s team was excluded.
The timing of the invitation proved problematic for the women’s team. According to a source cited by the Associated Press, the players didn’t learn of the invitation until late night, making it difficult to alter their travel plans. The women’s team arrived in Miami on via commercial flight, with a scheduled landing in Atlanta. In contrast, the men’s team chartered a flight to Miami earlier that day.
Logistical challenges were compounded by the resumption of professional hockey seasons. The NHL season is set to resume with five games on , while the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is scheduled to return on . Many of the players on both teams have commitments to their respective leagues.
The President’s comments regarding the women’s team sparked considerable backlash on social media, prompting the formal invitations to both squads. While the men’s team’s plans remain unclear, the women’s team has definitively declined the offer, citing pre-existing obligations. The White House has not yet commented on the status of the men’s team’s attendance.
This isn’t the first instance of a U.S. Olympic team declining an invitation from President Trump. In , the U.S. Women’s hockey team also declined an invitation to the White House following their Olympic victory in Pyeongchang. That decision was widely interpreted as a political statement.
The situation highlights the complexities of balancing celebratory opportunities with the athletes’ existing schedules and personal commitments. While the White House invitation is a traditional honor for Olympic champions, the logistical hurdles and the context surrounding the invitation – particularly the President’s remarks – clearly played a role in the women’s team’s decision. The team’s statement focuses on prior commitments, but the timing of the invitation and the President’s comments undoubtedly contributed to the difficulty of making the trip.
The U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team’s gold medal victory in Milan, Italy, was a historic achievement, solidifying their position as a dominant force in international hockey. The team’s decision to decline the White House invitation, while framed as a logistical necessity, adds another layer to the ongoing narrative surrounding athlete activism and the intersection of sports, and politics.