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The United States women’s ice hockey team has responded to President Donald Trump’s statement during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, where he said the team would “soon” be heading to the White House to celebrate their gold-medal victory at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
“They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime as everybody saw, as did the American women who will soon be coming to the White House,” Trump said as the men’s hockey team was being saluted by everyone inside the House chamber during the address.
USA Hockey has responded to Trump’s indication that the team would be going to the White House.
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President Donald Trump said the US women’s ice hockey team will ‘soon’ be heading to the White House to celebrate their gold medal win in Milan. (GETTY)
“Players are back competing with their professional and collegiate teams and are in the midst of their season,” a USA Hockey spokesperson told Front Office Sports. “They’re honored and grateful to be invited and any opportunity to visit the White House as a team will be based on their schedules once their seasons conclude.”
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) returns to play on Thursday.
USA Hockey and the White House have not immediately responded to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.
The women’s team declined Trump’s invitation to attend his State of the Union address on Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., citing “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”
“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 told NBC News earlier this week. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.
“They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
Trump received criticism for what some viewed as disrespect toward the women’s team while on a phone call with the men’s team after their overtime victory over Canada on Sunday. While Jack Hughes quickly became an American hero with his gold-medal-winning goal, Megan Keller did the same thing in overtime three days before his to defeat Canada in their matchup.
During the viral clip of Trump’s phone call to the men’s team, he said that he would “have” to invite the women’s team to the State of the Union, too, otherwise, “I probably would be impeached.”
United States’ Grace Zumwinkle, left, and Taylor Heise celebrate after the victory ceremony for women’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
While controversy stirred on social media around the moment, Hughes’ mother, Ellen Hughes, who serves as a player development consultant for Team USA women’s ice hockey, explained she was not bothered by Trump’s comments.
“These players, both the men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and to a country,” she told “Today.” “People that cheered on that don’t watch hockey, people that have politics on one side or on the other side, and that’s all both the men’s team and the women’s team care about.”
“If you could see what we see from the inside, and the men and women sharing, you know, dorm rooms and halls and flex floors and the camaraderie and the synergy and the way the women cheered on the men and the way the men cheered on the women — that’s what it’s all about,” she continued. “And the other things they cannot control. They care about humanity. They care about unity, and they care about the country.”
And while some were displeased by the men’s team laughing at Trump’s joke on the call, Quinn Hughes, the brother of Jack and hero in the quarterfinal overtime win with his goal over Sweden, explained how “amazing” it was to spend time with the women’s team throughout the weeks in Milan.
Laila Edwards (10) of the United States and Megan Keller (5) of the United States celebrate after winning the gold medal in women’s ice hockey after defeating Canada during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 19, 2026. (Amber Searls/Imagn Images)
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They were in attendance, as well as other men’s hockey players, to watch as the women’s team took home gold.
“Me and Jack were there, we watched them win the gold medal,” Quinn said. “They came to our game and were able to watch us. So, just the support back and forth, just to get to know them a little better was special, too.”
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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