02/23/26 04:37:00
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02/23 16:36 CST US women's gold medal-winning team declines invitation from
Trump to attend State of Union address
US women's gold medal-winning team declines invitation from Trump to attend
State of Union address
WASHINGTON (AP) --- 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 on 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 will be a challenge as the NHL regular season resumes with five
games on Wednesday and the PWHL resumes on Thursday.
Logistics played a role in the decision, as many of the women players were not
scheduled to arrive in North America until Monday evening. The men's team flew
by charter to Miami earlier Monday. The women took a commercial flight and were
scheduled to land 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.
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.
___
Associated Press Hockey Writer John Wawrow and Associated Press writer Melissa
Goldin in Washington contributed to this report.
___
AP Winter Olympic: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
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