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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” head to the White House to celebrate its gold medal victory at the 2026 Cortina Games in Milan.
“They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everyone saw, just like the American women who will soon be coming to the White House,” Trump said as the men’s hockey team was greeted by everyone inside the House of Representatives during the speech.
USA Hockey has responded to Trump’s indication that the team would go to the White House.
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President Donald Trump said the United States women’s ice hockey team will “soon” head to the White House to celebrate their gold medal win in Milan. (GETTY)
“The players are back competing with their professional and college teams and are halfway through 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 schedules once their seasons conclude.”
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 Pak Gazette Digital.
The women’s team declined Trump’s invitation to attend his State of the Union address Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., citing “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”
“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 earlier this week. “Due to the calendar and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments after the Games, athletes are not able to participate.
“They were honored to be included and are grateful for the recognition.”
Trump received criticism for what some saw as a lack of respect toward 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 goal, Megan Keller did the same in overtime three days before hers to defeat Canada in their matchup.
During the viral clip of Trump’s phone call to the men’s team, he said he “would have” to invite the women’s team to the State of the Union as well, otherwise he would “probably be impeached.”
Grace Zumwinkle, left, of the United States, and Taylor Heise celebrate after the women’s ice hockey victory ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
While there was controversy on social media at the time, Hughes’ mother, Ellen Hughes, who serves as a player development consultant for Team USA women’s ice hockey, explained that she was not bothered by Trump’s comments.
“These players, both men and women, can bring a lot of unity to a group and a country,” he told “Today.” “The people who cheer and don’t watch hockey, the people who have politics on one side or the other, and that’s all that matters to both the men’s and women’s teams.”
“If you could see what we see from the inside, and the men and women sharing, you know, bedrooms and hallways and flexible floors and the camaraderie and the synergy and the way the women encouraged the men and the way the men encouraged 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 about the men’s team laughing at Trump’s joke on the call, Quinn Hughes, Jack’s brother and hero of the quarterfinal overtime victory with his goal over Sweden, explained how “amazing” it was to spend time with the women’s team during 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 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Stadium on February 19, 2026. (Amber Searls/Image Images)
They were there, as well as other men’s hockey players, to watch the women’s team take home the gold.
“Jack and I were there, we saw them win the gold medal,” Quinn said. “They came to our game and got to see us. So the support back and forth, getting to know them a little better was special, too.”
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