US women's hockey team declines Trump's State of the Union invitation

The United States women’s crystal hockey team, caller disconnected a gold-medal triumph implicit Canada successful the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to be his State of the Union code connected Tuesday. 

"We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our golden medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and profoundly admit the designation of their bonzer achievement," USA Hockey told NBC News. "Due to the timing and antecedently scheduled world and nonrecreational commitments pursuing the Games, the athletes are incapable to participate.

"They were honored to beryllium included and are grateful for the acknowledgment."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Team United States celebrates aft their triumph implicit Sweden astatine the Winter Olympics, successful Milan, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The White House did not instantly respond to a petition for remark by Fox News Digital.

The women’s hockey squad was ascendant successful the Olympics, and it came down to the golden medal crippled against their rival, Team Canada, this past week successful a thriller that required overtime aft a precocious extremity by Hilary Knight tied the crippled astatine 1 apiece with little than 2 minutes to play successful the 3rd period. 

Knight’s heroics allowed the three-on-three golden-goal overtime period, wherever Megan Keller received a walk down ice, made a nifty deke connected a Canadian defender, and back-handed a changeable past the goaltender for the win.

Just days later, the men’s hockey squad did the nonstop aforesaid against Canada, arsenic Jack Hughes scored the game-winning extremity successful overtime connected Sunday day to decorativeness the Milan Cortina Games successful benignant for the U.S. 

During a telephone to the men’s hockey squad connected Sunday nighttime aft their victory, Trump besides invited the squad to the State of the Union. It’s unclear if they program to be it considering the NHL docket resumes connected Wednesday night. 

United States' Grace Zumwinkle, left, and Taylor Heise observe aft the triumph ceremonial for women's crystal hockey astatine the Winter Olympics, successful Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

As Trump was explaining helium could "send a subject level oregon something" for the team, 1 subordinate chopped him disconnected and said, "We’re in."

Trump, then, brought up FBI Director Kash Patel, who was spotted celebrating with the squad successful the locker country aft the gold-medal win.

"We’ll get Kash, and we’ll get the subject to get you guys over," Trump continued. "You won’t person to interest astir the upwind oregon landing. We don’t attraction if it’s snowing oregon if it’s the worst blizzard – we’ll beryllium sailing done similar you did connected the ice."

Trump besides brought up the women’s hockey squad connected the telephone call.

"I indispensable archer you, we’re going to person to bring the women’s team, you bash cognize that," Trump was heard saying implicit the telephone to the men’s team. 

Team United States poses aft the medal ceremonial pursuing their gold-medal lucifer against Canada astatine the Winter Olympics astatine Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena connected Feb. 19, 2026, successful Milan. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump besides joked, "I bash judge I astir apt would beryllium impeached," if helium didn’t invitation the women’s squad arsenic good arsenic the men. 

The Professional Women’s Hockey League besides resumes play connected Thursday night. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Related Article