Us Mens Hockey Controversy Intensifies After Women’s Team Declines State of the Union Invite and Olbermann Slams Men’s Response

The latest development in the us mens hockey controversy centers on the U. S. women’s hockey team declining President Donald Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union, while a high-profile commentator ridiculed the men’s team for appearing to accept the same invitation. The split reaction matters because both teams had just won Olympic gold over Canada and their choices have rapidly become entwined with political optics.

Us Mens Hockey Controversy: Women's Team Declines State of the Union Invite

The U. S. women’s hockey team said it is declining President Donald Trump’s invitation to attend his State of the Union address, citing previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games. USA Hockey issued a statement 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, " and adding, "They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment. "

The women’s team had beaten Canada for the gold medal in the Olympic women's hockey final on Thursday, with overtime heroics supplied by Megan Keller. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump had earlier joked—when speaking to the men’s team—that he would be impeached if he failed to invite the women’s team as well.

Olbermann's Reaction and the Men's Locker-Room Call

Former broadcaster Keith Olbermann criticized the men’s team for wanting to accept the State of the Union invitation while praising the women for declining. Olbermann wrote on X that "It's official US Gold Winning Olympic Hockey team declined invitation to be political props for Trump at the SOTU tomorrow. The women, that is. " He added harsher language aimed at the men, writing that "The men are still too stupid, self-absorbed and misogynistic to realize that going, will stick to them permanently. "

The men’s team had celebrated a 2-1 victory over Canada that marked the first time the Americans won men’s Olympic hockey gold since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team. That win came at the Milan Cortina Games, and the match required overtime heroics from Jack Hughes. During a postgame locker-room phone call, multiple players cut off President Trump when he suggested they travel to the State of the Union on an official invitation.

Players' Responses and the Trump Call

Some players reacted differently to the presidential contact. Matthew Tkachuk said he believed it was "super cool" that Trump called the team after the win and called it "an honor hearing from the President of the United States" after arriving at Miami International Airport on Monday. Trump had invited the men's team in a phone call Sunday night after their overtime victory, telling them, "I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that. " He added jokingly, "I do believe I probably would be impeached, " if he did not invite the women’s team.

It remains unclear if the men’s team will attend the State of the Union address.

Symbols, Reaction and Context

Olbermann also objected to a White House post that showed an eagle attacking a goose after Team USA’s 2-1 victory—an image released following Canada’s earlier remarks about the rivalry. That Canadian comment, from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, said, "You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game. " Olbermann wrote on X that "Trump's Trash White House always acts as if it's never been there before. "

Commentary has compared the recent gold-medal victories to the 1980 team; one commentator asked how this win stacks up against the 1980 victory over the Soviet Union and how America should feel about the current team.

Photographs, Credits and Remaining Questions

Contextual images accompanying coverage included a photo of Keith Olbermann on a daytime talk show from March 25, 2016, and a photograph of President Trump attending a ceremony in Florida to dedicate the renaming of a 4-mile stretch of Southern Boulevard to "President Donald J. Trump Boulevard" on Jan. 16, 2026. Reporting credits listed Monica Alba as a White House correspondent and Megan Lebowitz as a politics reporter. Further details about whether the men’s team will accept the invitation are unclear in the provided context and may evolve.