Criticism of U.S. Men’s Hockey Team’s Response to Trump’s Invitation

Mary Clark from USA Today expressed disappointment with the U.S. men’s hockey team for missing what she described as a significant “cultural moment” after they quickly accepted President Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union address. This happened just after the team celebrated a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Canada, marking the U.S. its first Olympic men’s hockey gold medal in 46 years.

During a congratulatory call to the locker room, Trump invited the players to the State of the Union. Remarkably, the team accepted the offer almost as soon as he finished speaking. At one point, the President quipped that not inviting the women’s team would likely lead to his impeachment.

“We have to bring the women’s team, you know that,” he said, adding that failing to do so might get him in trouble.

The men’s team appeared to receive this joke well, with laughter echoing around the room, but Clark was not amused. She accused Trump of undervaluing the women’s accomplishments and criticized the men’s team for their acceptance of the invitation. Reflecting on the exchange, she remarked that it felt like, perhaps, a bucket of cold water had been thrown on her head.

Clark highlighted various achievements of female athletes at the Winter Olympics, such as Alisa Liu’s gold in figure skating, along with Elana Meyers-Taylor and Mikaela Shiffrin’s wins in bobsleigh and slalom, respectively. Yet, she also lamented the White House’s silence regarding female athletes’ successes, suggesting a pattern—only voicing praise when right-leaning athletes took center stage.

She contended that during many Olympic games, the administration seemed unusually quiet amid these victories. Clark pointed out that the Trump administration appeared to prioritize recognition for athletes who aligned with certain political views.

Clark described this scenario as reflective of “hockey culture,” suggesting that those familiar with the sport would not be surprised by its political inclinations. She noted that recently, numerous NHL players had declined to wear pride-themed jerseys, an action that stirred controversy in the league.

Despite the sport’s troubling past and persistent issues, Clark acknowledged that hockey was evolving, particularly with media portrayals, like a Netflix series focusing on LGBTQ themes that drew in new fans.

Nevertheless, she felt that the U.S. men’s team’s actions were a letdown. “In a moment when hockey’s popularity was high, the men’s team seemingly dropped the ball,” she reflected, noting their missed opportunity to shine a light on their female counterparts during a significant time.

Clark accused the men’s team of only offering superficial support to the women’s team, as their appearances and praise felt empty after the awkward moments with Trump.

“Laughing at a joke that diminishes your teammates is disappointingly tone-deaf,” she concluded, pointing out that it left a poor impression after what should have been a celebrated Olympic moment for the U.S. and the world alike.

On Tuesday, the U.S. men’s hockey team arrived in Washington, D.C., ready to attend the State of the Union that evening.