The United States Men’s Hockey team returned from the 2026 Winter Olympics with a gold medal, but hasn’t been able to escape the enduring controversy over their postgame celebration with Donald Trump.
The team was criticized when Trump appeared to take a shot at the women’s team — which also won a gold medal — during a postgame phone call after the men defeated Team Canada in overtime of the gold medal game.
The controversy deepened on Tuesday when members of the team were photographed making a visit to the White House and a planned appearance at Trump’s State of the Union address.
Men’s Team Visits Donald Trump in White House
The men’s team faced backlash after several players were seen laughing at a joke Trump made at the expense of the women’s team. The president told the players he would be inviting them to the White House, expressing disdain that he would have to invite the women’s team as well.
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the woman’s team. You do know that?” Trump said, leading to laughter among some of the men’s players.
“I do believe I probably would be impeached,” Trump added.
The women’s team declined their invitation, but several players from the men’s team were seen with Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday. A picture shared on X by Margo Martin, Trump’s special assistant and communications advisor, showed several players posing in the Oval Office.
The men’s team had faced calls to boycott the White House visit, with more than 20,000 people signing a petition on MoveOn.org asking them to stay away.
“There’s no excuse for the U.S. men’s team—as well as the president and FBI director—using their platforms to undermine, mock, and denigrate women athletes,” the petition read. “The women’s hockey team has made it clear they won’t be attending the State of the Union. Now the men’s hockey team must apologize publicly, and do the same.”
Team to Appear at Trump’s State of the Union
NBC News reported that members of the team were also expected to appear at Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
“Twenty members of the team were at White House (all players but Brock Nelson, Jackson LaCombe, Jake Oettinger, Jake Guentzel and Kyle Connor),” the report noted. “The administration had been working through logistics so the players could attend the speech, a White House official said.”
But many players did appear at the speech, getting a shout-out from Trump and greetings from lawmakers there for the address.
“I want to thank you all,” Trump told the players, via The Associated Press. “What a special job you did. What special champions you are.”
Trump added during the event that he would be honoring the gold-medal winning women’s team very soon as well, though it was not immediately clear what may be planned.
Some of the players have a quick turnaround, with the NHL season resuming on Wednesday after taking several weeks off for the Milan Cortina Olympics.
U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Sparks Controversy With Trump Visit, SOTU Appearance