WASHINGTON — The U.S. women’s hockey gold medal-winning team has politely declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend his State of the Union address Tuesday.
“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,” the U.S. women’s team said in a statement released Monday. “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 also invited the U.S. men’s gold medal-winning team. Scheduling is a challenge as the NHL season resumes with five games Wednesday and the PWHL returns Thursday. Each U.S. hockey team arrived in Miami on Monday.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of both teams.
The Olympic tournament featured two thrilling medal finals, both ending in overtime, with the American women beating Canada 2-1 in the gold medal game Thursday. The U.S. men beat Canada on Sunday.
“It’s been a whirlwind, it’s been amazing,” Matthew Tkachuk of the U.S. men’s team said after arriving in Miami. “It’s a dream of ours, it was such an amazing way to unite the country.
“We felt the support being across the Atlantic, and now being back on home soil we could feel it the second 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 the win. “And so we are definitely honored to represent him and the millions and millions across the country.”
Vice President JD Vance attended two of the U.S. women’s preliminary-round wins with his family over the first week of the Games.