Just days after winning Olympic gold with a 2–1 victory over Canada on Feb. 23, members of the U.S. men’s hockey team were invited by President Donald Trump to visit the White House. A locker-room video showed Trump congratulating the team and joking that he’d “have to bring the women’s team” too — a comment that sparked online criticism.
The U.S. women’s hockey team, which also won gold, declined the invitation due to scheduling conflicts and instead celebrated with Flavor Flav.
The men’s team attended the White House during the State of the Union on Feb. 24, where Trump praised the players. However, five members — Brock Nelson, Jackson LaCombe, Jake Guentzel, Jake Oettinger, and Kyle Connor — were absent. No official reason linked their absence to politics, though some speculation circulated online.
Connor later said he skipped the visit to prepare for the NHL season, which resumed the next day. The other absent players also had professional commitments.
Jack Hughes defended the team, saying they support the women’s squad and emphasized that, as athletes, they are proud to represent the United States, adding, “Everything is so political. We’re athletes.”