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Former ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann took issue with the U.S. men’s ice hockey team’s willingness to accept President Donald Trump’s invitation to his State of the Union address Tuesday night, while applauding the women’s hockey team for declining the same gesture.
Both teams are coming off Olympic gold against Canada, with overtime heroics needed in each game by Jack Hughes on the men’s side and Megan Keller on the women’s side. As such, Trump invited both teams to his speech, although the women’s hockey team said “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments” led to declining the invitation.
“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. “Due to the schedule and planned academic and professional commitments after the Games, athletes are unable to participate.
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Keith Olbermann on “The View” March 25, 2016. (Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
“They were honored to be included and are grateful for this recognition.”
Olbermann was delighted with this news.
“The official gold-winning US Olympic hockey team declined the invitation to be political props for Trump at tomorrow’s SOTU,” he wrote on X. “Women, of course.”
He then took aim at the men’s hockey team, who were seen reacting to Trump’s invitation during a locker room phone call after beating the Canadian team to conclude the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Several players interrupted Trump when he suggested they attend the State of the Union address by official invitation.
“Men are still too stupid, self-centered and misogynistic to realize that leaving will stick with them permanently,” Olbermann’s message concludes.
Olbermann also objected to the White House releasing a photo of an eagle attacking a goose after the U.S. team’s 2-1 victory, which marked the first time since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team that the Americans won gold in men’s hockey.
The post follows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks about Canada when it beat the United States in last year’s 4-nation showdown, writing at the time: “You can’t take our country – and you can’t take our game.”
President Donald Trump attends a ceremony in Florida to dedicate the renaming of a 4-mile stretch of Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach County to “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard” on January 16, 2026. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
“The Trash Trump White House still acts like it’s never been there before,” Olbermann, a long-time Trump critic, wrote on X.
Meanwhile, players like Matthew Tkachuk thought it was “super cool” that Trump called them out after the victory.
“It’s an honor to hear from the President of the United States,” he said Monday after arriving at Miami International Airport. “Hearing that he supported us and all the other athletes who wanted us to bring home as many gold medals as possible. We are truly honored to represent him and the hundreds of millions of people across the country and bring home a gold medal.”
It is unclear whether the men’s hockey team has officially accepted the invitation. They continued their celebrations in Miami, including an appearance at E11EVEN MIAMI nightclub on Monday evening.
Trump’s speech is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, while the NHL schedule resumes Wednesday night across the league.
Television personality Keith Olbermann speaks onstage during the Olbermann panel during the ESPN portion of the 2013 Summer Television Critics Association Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 24, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
During the phone call with the men’s team, Trump was explaining that he could “send a military plane or something” for the team, a player interrupted him and said, “We’re in.”
Trump also brought up the women’s hockey team during the phone call, saying, “I have to tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you know that.” Trump also joked, “I think I’d probably be impeached” if he didn’t invite the women’s team as well as the men.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League also resumes play Thursday evening.
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