US women’s gold medal ice hockey team declines Trump’s State of the Union
#State of the Union#US women's hockey team#Donald Trump#Olympic gold medal#Washington D.C.#2026 Winter Olympics#impeachment
📌 Key Takeaways
US women's ice hockey team declined Trump's State of Union invitation
Team cited scheduling conflicts as reason for declining
Trump joked he'd be impeached if he didn't invite the women's team
Men's team appears to have accepted the invitation
📖 Full Retelling
The US women's gold medal ice hockey team has politely declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend Tuesday's State of the Union address in Washington D.C., as reported on February 24, 2026, citing scheduling conflicts following their Olympic victory. The team issued a statement through NBC explaining that players would be 'unable to participate' due to 'previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games,' despite being 'deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement.' President Trump had jokingly suggested during a phone call with the men's gold medal team that he would be impeached if he didn't invite the women's team after their 2-1 victory over Canada on Thursday, marking their first gold medal since 2018. While the men's team can be heard enthusiastically accepting the invitation with cheers of 'We're in,' the women's team politely declined while maintaining gratitude for the recognition of their achievement. The tradition of bringing guests to the State of the Union address continues, with both Republicans and Democrats typically inviting notable individuals to attend the annual congressional address.
🏷️ Themes
Sports diplomacy, Political ceremonies, Olympic achievements
Award given to successful competitors at one of the Olympic Games
An Olympic medal is awarded to successful competitors at one of the Olympic Games. There are three classes of medal to be won: gold, silver, and bronze, awarded to first, second, and third place, respectively. The granting of awards is laid out in detail in the Olympic protocols.
Annual report by the president of the United States
The State of the Union address (sometimes abbreviated to SOTU) is an annual message delivered by the president of the United States to a joint session of the United States Congress near the beginning of most calendar years on the current condition of the nation. The speech generally includes reports...
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
Born into a wealthy New York City family, Trump graduated from the...
The team's decision highlights the intersection of sports and politics, drawing attention to how athletes navigate public appearances with political figures. It underscores the ongoing conversation about the role of national teams in ceremonial events following major victories. The situation also reflects the polarized political climate, where even celebratory invitations can become subjects of public discourse.
Context & Background
The US women's ice hockey team won gold at the Winter Olympics, their first since 2018
President Trump invited both the men's and women's teams to the State of the Union address
Trump joked he would be impeached if he did not invite the women's team
The men's team appeared to accept the invitation during a call with Trump
What Happens Next
The men's team may attend the State of the Union if they formally accept the invitation. The women's team will return to their academic and professional commitments as stated. The incident may spark further discussion about athlete engagements with political events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the women's team decline the invitation?
They cited previously scheduled academic and professional commitments after the Olympics.
Did the men's team accept the invitation?
They were heard cheering and saying 'We're in' during a call with Trump, but formal acceptance is not confirmed.
When did the US women's team last win gold before this?
They last won gold in 2018.
Original Source
Sport | Winter Olympics US women’s gold medal ice hockey team declines Trump’s State of the Union Team has politely turned down an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend Tuesday’s address in the capital. Listen to this article | 2 mins By AFP Published On 24 Feb 2026 24 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media Share Save The women’s ice hockey team of the United States has declined an invitation to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, US media reported, after he joked he would be “impeached” if he did not ask them to attend. NBC cited a statement from the women’s team on Monday, saying players would be “unable to participate” in the State of the Union address. Recommended Stories list of 2 items list 1 of 2 England target T20 World Cup semifinal spot against Pakistan in Super 8s list 2 of 2 UEFA provisionally suspends Prestianni after Vinicius Jr racism accusation end of list “We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning US Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” the statement said. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.” Both Republicans and Democrats traditionally bring guests to watch the president’s annual address to Congress, and Trump invited the US men’s ice hockey team after they won Olympic gold on Sunday. Team USA’s women’s team won gold for the first time since 2018 when they beat the Canadians 2-1 on Thursday. In a video shared online, Trump can be heard on speakerphone in a call with the men’s team, inviting them to the address before saying, “We’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that”, to which the players laugh. “I do believe I would probably be impeached, OK?” the president added. It is not clear if the men’s team have formally accepted Trump’s invitation, but they can be heard cheering and saying, “We’re in.” T...
