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Topics: Donald Trump, Olympics, Politics, News, US News, Sport, World News
Madison Burgess
Topics: Donald Trump, Olympics, Politics, News, US News, Sport, World News
A member of the US women's hockey team has spoken out about Donald Trump's claim that they would 'soon be coming to the White House'.
The American President, 79, issued the remark during his State of the Union address on Tuesday (24 February), which was attended by the US men's hockey team after he invited them following their gold medal win.
For those who missed it, during the Milan Cortina Olympics, both the men's and women's teams beat rivals Canada in their respective games, coming out on top.
However, their victories have since been marred by controversy after footage emerged from the men's locker room of them getting a congratulatory call from the Republican leader.
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Trump invited the group of men to attend the State of the Union address as guests of honour, before making a 'sexist' remark about the women's team.
He said: "And we have to - I must tell you - we’re going to have to bring the women’s team. [If I don’t] do that, I do believe I probably would be impeached, OK?" which prompted laughter.
Understandably, both Trump's 'misogynistic' remark and the men's reactions have caused backlash online.
Not long after the video came to light, the women's hockey team declined Trump's offer, and their spokesperson told NBC that the decision was made due to 'timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments'.
However, despite this, during the State of the Union, while praising the men's team, Trump said the women would soon make a trip of their own, although this hasn't been confirmed.
He said: "They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw, as did the American women who will soon be coming to the White House."
But a new interview with a member of the women's team, Caroline Harvey, doesn't quite match up with the world leader's claim.
During a CNN interview, the gold-medal-winning Olympian, 23, was asked: "President Trump said at the State of the Union that the women's team is coming to the White House. Is that true? And if so, is there a date for that?"
To which Harvey responded: "I'm unsure, yeah, I'm unsure. Obviously, right now we're all back with our respective teams, pro or college, but I haven't heard any word on that."
Quizzed on whether she would go, the sportswoman reasoned: "I mean, I'm just busy right now with school, and we've got a championship to win here, and we've got a lot of stuff ahead of us, so personally, I need to finish out school and take care of business in that way but, yeah, I feel like I have my hands pretty tied right now."
When contacted by Tyla earlier this week about whether a trip to the White House was on the card for the women's team, their spokesperson said: "Players are back competing with their professional and collegiate teams and are in the midst of their season.
"They’re honored and grateful to be invited, and any opportunity to visit the White House as a team will be based on their schedules once their seasons conclude."