NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Former ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann took issue with the U.S. men’s ice hockey team wanting 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 just claimed Olympic gold over Canada, and Jack Hughes for the men and Megan Keller for the women need overtime heroics in every competition. As such, Trump extended an invitation to both teams to his speech, although the women’s hockey team said that “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments” led to them declining the invitation.
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning US women’s hockey team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” USA Hockey told NBC News. “Due to the calendar and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments after the Games, athletes are not able to participate.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Keith Olbermann on “The View” on March 25, 2016. (Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
“They were honored to be included and are grateful for the recognition.”
Olbermann was happy to receive the news.
“It’s official that the gold-winning US Olympic hockey team declined the invitation to be political support for Trump at SOTU tomorrow,” he wrote on X. “Women, of course.”
He then took aim at the men’s hockey team, which was seen reacting to Trump’s invitation during a locker room phone call after defeating Team Canada to conclude the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Several actors interrupted Trump when he suggested they travel to the State of the Union address with an official invitation.
“Men are still too stupid, self-absorbed and misogynistic to realize that leaving will stay with them permanently,” Olbermann’s post ends.
Olbermann also objected to the White House releasing a photo of an eagle attacking a goose after Team USA’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 came in response to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments about Canada defeating the United States in the 4-Nation Showdown last year, 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)
“Trump’s trash White House always acts like it’s never been there before,” Olbermann, a long-time critic of Trump, wrote on X.
Meanwhile, players like Matthew Tkachuk thought it was “cool” that Trump called them after the victory.
“It’s an honor to listen to the president of the United States,” he said after arriving at Miami International Airport on Monday. “To hear that he was supporting us and all the other athletes who wanted us to bring home as many gold medals as we can. We were definitely honored to represent him and the hundreds of millions of people across the country and bring back a gold medal.”
It is unknown if the men’s hockey team officially accepted the invitation. They continued their celebrations in Miami, including an appearance at nightclub E11EVEN MIAMI on Monday night.
Trump’s speech is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, while the NHL schedule resumes Wednesday night across the league.
Television personality Keith Olbermann speaks on stage during Olbermann’s panel at 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 mentioned the women’s hockey team in the phone call, saying, “I have to tell you, we’re going to have to bring in 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 in addition to the men’s.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League will also resume play Thursday night.
Related article
