U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Declines Trump’s D.C. Invite After His Locker Room Banter with Men’s Team Goes Viral

After winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the U.S. women’s hockey team declined an invitation to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.

The team earned the gold medal in Italy on Feb. 19 after defeating Canada 2–1 in overtime. This marked the U.S. women’s first Olympic gold since 2018. A few days later, on Feb. 22, the U.S. men’s hockey team also beat Canada 2–1, securing their first gold medal since 1980.

Following the men’s victory, Trump congratulated the players during a phone call that was shared on social media. He praised their performance and invited both the men’s and women’s teams to attend the State of the Union at the U.S. Capitol.

USA Hockey later released a statement explaining why the women’s team would not attend. A spokesperson said the athletes appreciated the invitation but could not participate due to scheduling conflicts and previously planned academic and professional commitments.

In the championship game, team captain Hilary Knight scored the winning goal. The gold medal was her second Olympic gold and her fifth overall Olympic medal. Knight previously won gold in 2018 and helped the team earn silver medals in 2010, 2014, and 2022. During the 2026 Games, Knight also became engaged to fellow Olympian Brittany Bowe.

Another notable moment for Team USA came from Laila Edwards, who became the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s hockey team at the Olympics. Edwards emphasized the importance of representation, saying that being a role model is one of her biggest motivations.