The U.S. women’s hockey team has declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend his State of the Union address, citing scheduling conflicts in the days following its Olympic gold medal victory.
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” the team said in a statement released Monday. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
Trump also invited the U.S. men’s hockey team after both American squads won gold medals in dramatic overtime victories at the Winter Games. The women defeated Canada 2‑1 on Thursday to reclaim Olympic gold, while the men beat Canada on Sunday for their first Olympic title in decades.
Trump had referenced both squads while extending the invitation during a phone call with the men’s team, joined in the locker room by FBI Director Kash Patel, on Sunday night. “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said. He added jokingly that if he did not invite the women as well, “I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
US Women's Hockey Declines SOTU Invite: What to Know
A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the women’s players did not learn of the invitation until late Sunday night, making it difficult to alter existing travel arrangements. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the team’s plans publicly.
Scheduling and logistics appear to have played a significant role in the women’s decision. The NHL regular season resumes Wednesday, with five games on the schedule, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League is set to restart Thursday. Many players from both teams are returning directly to professional obligations after weeks overseas.
Travel plans also complicated the invitation. The women’s team was not scheduled to return to North America until Monday evening. While the men’s team flew by charter to Miami earlier in the day, the women traveled commercially and were expected to land in Atlanta.
When is the State of the Union Address?
President Trump is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday, speaking before a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol. The annual report, required by the Constitution, allows the president to outline the administration’s priorities and assess the state of the nation.
Trump said Monday that his upcoming State of the Union address will be a lengthy one, citing what he described as the breadth of issues he plans to cover.
Speaking as he wrapped up a White House event honoring “angel families,” Trump praised what he called strong national performance and highlighted his administration’s efforts to curb illegal immigration from Mexico.
“I’m making a speech tomorrow night, and you’ll be hearing me say that,” Trump said. “I mean, it’s going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about.”
Will the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Attend the State of the Union?
Trump invited the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team to attend the State of the Union after its gold‑medal victory Sunday over Canada at the Milan‑Cortina Winter Games, but it remains unclear whether the players will attend. While the team accepted the invitation during a phone call with the president, scheduling and travel logistics following the Olympics have not been finalized.
After arriving in Miami, U.S. men’s forward Matthew Tkachuk described the experience as overwhelming. “It’s been a whirlwind, it’s been amazing. It’s a dream of ours, it was such an amazing way to unite the country,” he said.
“We felt the support being across the Atlantic, and now being back on home soil, we could feel it the second the wheels hit the ground. So excited to be back in the greatest country in the world and so excited to celebrate.”
Tkachuk said hearing from Trump after the victory was meaningful for the team. “And so we are definitely honored to represent him and the millions and millions across the country.”
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. men's hockey team on Monday afternoon for comment. The White House has not commented on the status of either team’s attendance.
When Did Women’s Hockey Start in the Olympics?
Women’s ice hockey made its Olympic debut at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, marking the first time the sport was included on the women’s Olympic program. The United States won the inaugural gold medal and then topped the podium again in 2018 (PyeongChang). U.S. women's hockey has four silver medals and one bronze.
Updates: 2/23/26, 6:41 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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