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WASHINGTON — The U.S. women’s hockey team, fresh off their gold medal victory, has graciously turned down an invitation from President Donald Trump to be present at his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
“We are truly thankful for the invitation to our triumphant U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and greatly appreciate the acknowledgment of their remarkable accomplishment,” the team expressed in a statement issued on Monday. “Unfortunately, due to timing conflicts and pre-existing academic and professional obligations post-Games, the athletes are unable to attend. They are honored by the recognition and extend their gratitude for the invitation.”
The invitation was also extended to the U.S. men’s gold medal-winning team.
Scheduling poses a challenge since the NHL’s regular season resumes with five games on Wednesday, followed by the PWHL’s restart on Thursday.
The decision was partly influenced by logistical factors as many of the women players were not expected back in North America until Monday evening. Meanwhile, the men’s team had already traveled via charter to Miami earlier on Monday. The women’s team, traveling on a commercial flight, was scheduled to arrive in Atlanta.
A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the women’s players didn’t learn of the invite until late Sunday night, making it difficult to change their travel plans. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the team’s travel plans.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of both teams.
When extending the invitation to the men’s team on Sunday night, Trump said, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” Trump joked that if he did not also invite the women’s team, “I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
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 on Thursday. The U.S. men beat Canada on Sunday.
“It’s been a whirlwind, it’s been amazing. It’s a dream of ours, it was such an amazing way to unite the country,” Matthew Tkachuk of the U.S. men’s team said after arriving in Miami.
“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.
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AP writers Stephen Whyno, Charles Odum in Atlanta, and Freida Frisaro in Miami contributed to this report.
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