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The United States women’s ice hockey team responded to President Donald Trump’s statement during his State of the Union address Tuesday night, where he said the team would “soon” travel to the White House to celebrate its gold medal victory at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
“They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everyone saw, just like the Americans who will soon be coming to the White House,” Trump said as the men’s hockey team was saluted by everyone inside the House during the speech.
USA Hockey responded to Trump’s indication that the team would travel to the White House.
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President Donald Trump said the U.S. women’s ice hockey team will visit the White House “soon” to celebrate their gold medal in Milan. (GETTY)
“Players are back competing with their professional and collegiate teams and are in the middle of their season,” a USA Hockey spokesperson told Front Office Sports. “They are honored and grateful to be invited and any opportunity to visit the White House as a team will be based on their schedule once their season is over.”
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) returns to play on Thursday.
USA Hockey and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from PK Press Club Digital.
The women’s team declined Trump’s invitation to attend his State of the Union address Tuesday evening in Washington, D.C., citing “previously planned academic and professional commitments.”
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation to our gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” USA Hockey told NBC News earlier this week. “Due to the schedule and planned academic and professional commitments after the Games, athletes are unable to participate.
“They were honored to be included and are grateful for this recognition.”
Trump was criticized for what some saw as a lack of respect for the women’s team during a phone call with the men’s team after their overtime victory over Canada on Sunday. While Jack Hughes quickly became an American hero with his gold medal-winning goal, Megan Keller did the same in overtime three days before defeating Canada in their match.
During the viral clip of Trump’s phone call to the men’s team, he said he “should” also invite the women’s team to the State of the Union or “I’d probably be impeached.”
Grace Zumwinkle of the United States, left, and Taylor Heise celebrate after the victory ceremony for women’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
As controversy raged on social media at the time, Hughes’ mother, Ellen Hughes, who is a player development consultant for the United States women’s ice hockey team, explained that she was not bothered by Trump’s comments.
“These players, men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and a country,” she told “Today”. “The people who cheered don’t watch hockey, the people who have politics one way or the other, and that’s all the men’s team and the women’s team care about.”
“If you could see what we see from the inside, and the men and women sharing, you know, the dorms and the hallways and the flexible floors and the camaraderie and the synergy and the way the women encourage the men and the way the men encourage the women, that’s what it’s all about,” she continued. “And the other things they can’t control. They care about humanity. They care about unity and they care about the country.”
And while some were upset to see the men’s team mock Trump’s joke during the call, Quinn Hughes, Jack’s brother and hero of the overtime quarterfinal victory with his goal against Sweden, spoke about how “amazing” it was to spend time with the women’s team throughout the weeks in Milan.
Laila Edwards (10) of the United States and Megan Keller (5) of the United States celebrate after winning the gold medal in women’s ice hockey after defeating Canada during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 19, 2026. (Amber Searls/Imagn Images)
They were there, along with other men’s hockey players, to watch the women’s team win gold.
“Jack and I were there, we saw them win the gold,” Quinn said. “They came to our game and got to watch us. So just being able to support us, being able to get to know them a little better, was special too.”
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