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Gold medalist Team United States pose after the medal ceremony for the Ice Hockey Women following the Women's Gold Medal match between the United States and Canada on day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 19, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

USA Women's Hockey Team Declines Trump's State of the Union Invitation

 By Randy DeSoto  February 23, 2026 at 4:51pm

The gold medal U.S. women’s hockey team declined President Donald Trump’s invitation to attend Tuesday’s State of the Union address.

The announcement came a day after Trump invited the men’s hockey team during a call after their win over Canada to take the gold.

The president said they could also come to the White House on Wednesday, but Trump noted that would be inviting the women’s team as well.

In other words, Trump was saying that he needed to be even-handed, even as he congratulated them in their 2-1 overtime win, which incidentally was the same margin the women had over Canada.

A USA Hockey representative said in a statement on behalf of the women’s team, “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,” according to NBC News.

“Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate,” the representative added. “They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”

The women’s hockey victory came on Thursday, while the men won on Sunday.

The men’s team arrived back in Miami on Monday afternoon, marking a change of plans due to the blizzard conditions in New York City.

This year was the first time Team USA won both the men’s and women’s gold at the same Olympics.

The men’s victory came on the 46th anniversary, to the day, of the USA men’s “Miracle on Ice” win over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, the last time the men’s team took home the gold.

The triumph also came on George Washington’s birthday, during the 250th celebration of the independence of the United States, no less.

The women previously won gold in 2018 and 1998.

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