President Donald Trump made reference to the U.S. women’s hockey team during his 2026 State of the Union address after they declined the White House’s invitation.
While Trump, 79, was discussing how much the United States has been “winning” during his Tuesday, February 24, speech, he brought out the Team USA’s men’s hockey team out to pay tribute to the gold medalists after they made “the entire nation proud.”
After a series of “USA!” cheers from the audience and a standing ovation, Trump noted that the team “beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime” while at the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy, “as did the American women.”
He added that the women’s team, who were absent from the night’s event, “will soon be coming to the White House.”
Jack Hughes Preaches Patriotism After Scoring Gold Medal Goal With Missing Teeth
Trump then turned his attention back to the men, revealing that after taking a vote with the team, he would be presenting goalie Connor Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (Hellebuyck, 32, made 41 saves during Team USA’s victory game against Canada, securing the win with a crucial stick save in the third period and earning a secondary assist on the game-winning goal.)
“I did take a vote … every single one of them rapidly put up their hand,” Trump said. “What a special job you did, what special champions you are.”
Team USA women’s hockey team chose to skip Tuesday night’s address after taking home gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“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,” USA Hockey said in a statement to NBC News on Monday, February 23. “They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
USA Hockey said the players would be unable to attend “due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”
The team did not receive an invite to the State of the Union until the night of Sunday, February 22, which a source told the Associated Press made it “difficult to change their travel plans.”
Trump’s address was attended by members of Team USA men’s hockey team, who also won gold at the 2026 Olympics, including Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk.
The decision for some of the men’s players to attend the State of the Union came after Trump took a dig at the women’s team during a celebratory call after the men defeated Team Canada in the gold medal game on Sunday, February 22.
“We have medals for you guys. I must tell you, we‘re going to have to bring the women’s team,” Trump said, which elicited laughter from the players huddled around a phone held by FBI director Kash Patel.
Trump argued he would “probably would be impeached” if he didn’t invite the women’s team.
During an appearance on Good Morning America on Tuesday, Quinn, 26, said he was “excited” to attend the State of the Union address.
“It’s going to be special for us,” Quinn continued.
The Minnesota Wild star said he and his teammates were “extremely happy” for the American women’s gold medal victory.
Jack and Quinn Hughes’ Mom Ellen Responds to Team USA Hockey Controversy
“There’s a lot going on on social media right now surrounding our team and their team,” Quinn added. “In the last couple summers, we did a lot of training with them and got to know [them] really well.”
Quinn’s younger brother, Jack, 24, addressed the swirling controversies involving the Team USA hockey teams before an appearance at E11VEN nightclub in Miami on Monday night.
“Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today,” Jack told the Daily Mail, referring specifically to the players laughing at Trump’s comments about the women’s team.
Hughes added, “People are so negative out there and they are just trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing … I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them and we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us.”
