The U.S. women’s hockey team declined an invitation by President Donald Trump to attend Tuesday’s State of the Union address at the Capitol, a spokesperson said Monday. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) told reporters Tuesday that accommodations are being made for the championship men’s team to attend.
The women’s team won gold at the Winter Olympics in Milano on Thursday after defeating Canada 2-1.
“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,” a spokesperson for the women’s team said in a statement. “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 acknowledgement.”
On Tuesday, Johnson told reporters that even though the address is a well-attended event with a full gallery and a wait list of “people who want to be there,” he had told Trump that he’d make an effort to fit the men’s hockey team. The men’s team defeated Canada 2-1 on Sunday.
“Somehow, some way, we’ll squeeze in the hockey players tonight, and it’ll be a great moment for America,” Johnson said.
On Sunday, Trump spoke with the U.S. men’s hockey team as they celebrated after an overtime gold medal victory in their locker room. FBI Director Kash Patel, a fan of the sport, appears to have been the one who connected the team to Trump, via phone.
The president invited the men’s team to the address during the call, and told the men that he had to invite the women’s team, too, saying that if he did not he would “probably be impeached.” In a video shared online, some members of the men’s hockey team can be heard laughing at the president’s dig. Monday, the Democratic Women’s Caucus in the House of Representatives said the president’s comments were “demeaning and unacceptable.”
In a statement, caucus chair Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-New Mexico) and member Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Massachusetts) invited the women’s team to visit the Capitol at a future date to “celebrate their achievements and show our appreciation for their incredible representation of our country on the world stage — something the President could learn from.”
In the video showing Trump inviting the team, many of the men’s players voiced excitement about the invitation, saying, “We’re in.” One even asked the president to pick them up in Miami on Tuesday morning and fly them to D.C.
The president, as well as members of Congress, are allowed to bring guests to the annual address.
The women’s hockey team won gold in Milano following a 7-0 run in the Games. The team is one of the most successful American teams on the international stage, having medaled in every Olympics since 1998.
Kadia Goba contributed to this report.
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