U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Rejects Trump’s Two-Faced Invite

The U.S. women’s ice hockey team declined President Donald Trump’s invitation to attend his State of the Union address after he publicly expressed his displeasure.

According to NBC News, a spokesperson for the U.S. Hockey League (USHL) said: “We are extremely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. women’s ice hockey team, and we appreciate your profound recognition of their outstanding performance. Due to time constraints and their college and professional commitments scheduled after the Games, the players will be unable to attend.”

The president’s remarks were recorded during a congratulatory phone call between Trump and the men’s gold medalists and were widely circulated on social media.

In a video of the call, released by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, Trump congratulated the team and invited them to his State of the Union address on Tuesday, joking that he would have to charter a military plane to fly the players to Washington in time.

FBI Director Kash Patel helped coordinate logistics and joined the team for the celebrations in the locker room, reassuring Trump: “I’ve got it, Mr. President. I’m working on it! I’m working hard on it!”

Trump also joked about having to invite the U.S. women’s ice hockey team, who won gold on Thursday, telling the men’s team: “I have to tell you, we absolutely have to invite the women’s team, you know that.”

He added: ““I think if I didn’t do that, I do believe I probably would be impeached, “

We saw the players laughing, especially Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal for the U.S. team.

His mother, Elaine Weinberg-Hughes, is a development consultant for the women’s team.

There is no indication that Trump contacted the women’s ice hockey team to invite them to the White House.

This wouldn’t be the first time Trump has refused to host a White House reception for a championship women’s team.

Before 2019, no championship women’s team had been received at the White House during Trump’s presidency, breaking with a tradition established by his predecessors.

The Minnesota Lynx, WNBA champions in 2017, and the Seattle Storm, champions in 2018, were not invited to the White House after their victories.”

The University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team, the 2018 NCAA champions, also did not receive an invitation.

The University of South Carolina women’s basketball team, the 2017 NCAA champions, declined the invitation to the White House.

Often, women’s teams were incorporated into larger charity sporting events rather than being honored as independent champions.

The Baylor Lady Bears were not received at the White House during Trump’s presidency until April 2019, after winning the NCAA championship, becoming the first women’s team to achieve this feat.

In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump congratulated the U.S. men’s ice hockey team after their victory over Canada. He wrote: “ “Congratulations to our great U.S.A. Ice Hockey team. THEY WON THE GOLD. WOW!” adding: THEY WON THE GOLD. WOW!” he wrote, adding: “LOTS OF WINNING!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

However, Trump offered no similar congratulations to the women’s team.

Meanwhile, Patel’s presence at this year’s Winter Olympics sparked considerable controversy.

Leaked footage circulating online shows Patel drinking beer, receiving a gold medal, and joining in the boisterous celebrations after the U.S. men’s ice hockey team won its first Olympic gold medal in 46 years—a moment that quickly went viral.

Social media users criticized the presence of the top federal law enforcement official in a boisterous sports locker room, deeming it inappropriate given the context and national security concerns, including the armed intrusion at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and other FBI responsibilities.

Patel defended his attendance, calling it an honor, and said he was “very touched” to celebrate with the athletes who had invited him.