During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. women’s ice hockey team, who recently secured a gold medal in Milan, will be visiting the White House in the near future to celebrate their win.
As the audience applauded the men’s hockey team in the House chamber, Trump remarked, “As everyone saw, they defeated a great Canadian team in overtime, and the same goes for the U.S. women’s team, which will soon be at the White House.” However, it’s uncertain if the women’s team has formally accepted the invitation.
USA Hockey and the White House did not respond immediately to inquiries for comments. Interestingly, the women’s team had previously turned down Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union, citing prior academic and professional obligations. USA Hockey expressed gratitude for the recognition of their achievements, but noted that due to scheduling conflicts after the Olympics, the athletes wouldn’t be able to attend.
Trump faced criticism for comments deemed disparaging towards the women’s team during a recent phone call with the men’s team following their victory over Canada. During that conversation, he implied that the women’s team “must be invited” to the event or else they may “probably get impeached.” This remark triggered a wave of reactions across social media. Despite the negativity, one mother involved with the women’s team, Ellen Hughes, noted that she wasn’t overly concerned about the comments made by Trump.
She emphasized the unity that both male and female athletes could bring to the country. Ellen said, “The camaraderie and the synergy, with both teams supporting each other, is really what matters.” Additionally, Jack Hughes, who made a critical play in the men’s championship match, shared that watching the women’s team win was an uplifting experience.
Quinn Hughes, Jack’s brother, echoed those sentiments, stating, “Me and Jack were there too, watching them win the gold medal. Just the support back and forth, to get to know them a little better, was special.” In another highlight, Trump declared that men’s hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would receive the Medal of Freedom for his performance during the games, showcasing the importance of collaboration and recognition across both teams.
