WASHINGTON — The U.S. women’s hockey gold medal-winning team politely declined an invitation to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday.
“We are deeply grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary accomplishment,” the U.S. women’s team said in a statement released Monday. “Due to time and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments after the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for this acknowledgment.”
Trump also invited the US men’s gold medal winning team. Each US hockey team arrived in Miami on Monday.
Making a schedule will be a challenge as the NHL season resumes on Wednesday with five games. The PWHL returns Thursday.
Logistics played a role in the decision, as many of the women’s players were not scheduled to arrive in North America until Monday evening. The men’s team boarded a charter flight to Miami early Monday. The women took a commercial flight and were supposed to land in Atlanta.
A source told The Associated Press that the women’s players did not learn of the invitation until late Sunday night, making it difficult to change their travel plans.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of both teams.
“I’ve got to tell you, we’ve got to have a women’s team, you know that,” Trump said Sunday night while extending the invitation to the men’s team. Trump joked that if he did not invite the women’s team as well, “I believe I would probably be impeached.”
Two thrilling medal finals took place in the Olympic tournament, both ending in overtime US women beat Canada 2-1 Thursday in the gold medal game. US men beat Canada On Sunday.
“It’s been a whirlwind, it’s been amazing,” Matthew Tkachuk The US men’s team said after arriving in Miami. “This is a dream of ours; it was a wonderful way to unite the country.
“We felt the support as we crossed the Atlantic, and now back on home soil we can feel it as soon as the wheels hit the ground. So excited to be back in the greatest country in the world and so excited to celebrate.”
Tkachuk said it was an honor to hear from Trump after his victory. “And so we’re certainly honored to represent them and millions of people across the country.”
Vice President J.D. Vance attended the U.S. women’s two preliminary round victories with his family in the first week of the Games.
