Us Mens Hockey Controversy Deepens as U.S. Women’s Team Declines Trump State of the Union Invite, Flavor Flav Offers Las Vegas Party
The us mens hockey controversy widened after the U. S. women’s hockey team said it would not attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, citing scheduling conflicts days after beating Canada for Olympic gold on Thursday.
Team declines White House invitation, cites post-Games commitments
The U. S. women’s hockey team formally declined an invitation to the State of the Union, with USA Hockey saying, “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. ” USA Hockey added that, “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate, ” and that “They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment. ” The team’s gold medal came Thursday over Canada in the Olympic women’s final.
Trump’s phone call with the men’s team and his remarks
President Trump invited the U. S. men’s hockey team to the State of the Union during a phone call Sunday night after their overtime victory over Canada. During that call he told the men’s team, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that, ” and joked, “I do believe I probably would be impeached, ” if he did not. It is unclear if the men’s team will attend the speech.
Us Mens Hockey Controversy draws a celebrity response
After the women’s team declined the invitation one day after Trump’s call, hip-hop artist Flavor Flav—Williams Jonathan Drayton Jr. —offered a separate celebration. He shared a formal invitation sent to USA Hockey and an email that read in part: “I am reaching out on behalf of Flavor Flav. First, massive congratulations on the gold!!” The message continued that Flav “recently posted on social media an idea and invite for the women’s hockey team to Las Vegas for a real celebration” and said, “If there is an interest for the team to come to Las Vegas and celebrate with Flav – we will figure it out on our end and make it a lovely experience. ”
Both teams beat Canada in overtime; men’s gold noted historic milestone
The men’s and women’s Olympic victories both came in overtime fashion, with the women beating Canada in the women’s final and the men also beating Canada on Sunday. The men’s victory marked Team USA’s first Olympic men’s hockey gold since 1980. The women posed for the medal ceremony on Feb. 19, 2026 at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan during day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Reactions, requests for comment and related details
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the women’s decision. USA Hockey’s statement was shared with NBC News, and NBC News bylines on the matter list Monica Alba as a White House correspondent and Megan Lebowitz as a politics reporter. Separate coverage noted that Flavor Flav shared the invitation on social channels and that he and Ja Rule performed onstage at a City of Hope event in 2023.
It is unclear in the provided context what the next confirmed public appearance plans are for either Olympic team or whether the men’s team will attend the State of the Union; the women’s team cited previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games.
