When an American team wins a championship or gold medal during the Olympic games, they are often invited to visit the White House in Washington, D.C.
The tradition continued after the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams both defeated Canada to bring the gold back to the USA, President Donald Trump inviting both teams to the Oval Office and his State of the Union address.
The men’s team took Trump up on his offer, which came over the phone after the gold medal win. The U.S. women’s team, however, declined the invitation due to ‘timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.’ A team spokesperson said the team was honored to be invited.
All but five players on the men’s team toured the White House, the 20 players who did go to D.C. also expected to attend the State of the Union.
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See what Trump said about the U.S. men’s hockey team at the 2026 State of the Union address:
President Trump remarks about U.S. men’s hockey team at State of the Union
After talking about how much ‘winning’ the United States has been doing, Trump introduced the U.S. men’s hockey team, which entered to chants of ‘USA!’
Trump, referring to the Democrats in the room, remarked of the ovation: ‘That’s the first time I’ve ever seen them get up.’
‘And actually, not all of them did get up,’ Trump added.
He went on to say the USA men ‘beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as we all saw. As did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House.’
The women’s team had declined attending Tuesday’s events due to ‘timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.’
‘I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as goalie Connor Hellebuyck,’ Trump went on to say. Trump said he will be presenting Hellebuyck, who made over 40 saves in the championship game, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor.
‘What a special job you did. What special champions you are. Thank you very much,’ Trump concluded.
Trump call with USA men’s hockey team
Trump invited the men’s team on a phone call with FBI director Kash Patel, who celebrated the Olympic championship with players and coaches in the locker room, after it defeated Canada in the gold medal game.
‘What would really be cool, and we’ll do the White House next time, we’ll just have some fun, we have medals for you guys,’ Trump said on the call. ‘And we have to, I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?”
He added: ‘I do believe I probably would be impeached’ if the women’s team wasn’t invited.
Some of the team had a chuckle about the remark, which upset supporters of the women’s team.
‘People are so negative about things. I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them, and we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us,’ overtime scorer Jack Hughes said about the comments and the men’s team’s reaction.