Rhiannon Ingle
US president Donald Trump has been turned down by the Team USA women’s hockey team following his controversial comments about them to the men’s squad.
The gold medal-winning women’s hockey team declined Trump’s invitation to attend his State of the Union address with a spokesperson for USA Hockey, which oversees both programmes, telling NBC News correspondent Monica Alba that the White House had invited the women to the president’s address.
The players, however, chose not to attend, citing 'timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments'.
The statement follows the men’s team securing gold with a 2-1 overtime win over Canada at the Winter Olympics. The women had achieved the same 2-1 result against Canada in their own final just days earlier.
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The women’s side last took gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics, during Trump’s first term. They were later welcomed to the White House in April 2018 as part of a wider Olympic celebration, while the men’s triumph marked their first since the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
The men marked their victory with a lively locker room celebration, which saw FBI Director Kash Patel drinking from a bottle of beer while holding up a phone as Trump called to congratulate the team.
During the call, the 79-year-old Republican offered to fly them to Washington for Tuesday’s address (24 February), with a White House visit planned for the next day.
"We’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. I could send a military plane or something, if you would like to. It’s the coolest night. It’s the biggest speech," Trump said over speakerphone cheers and shouts of 'we’re in'.
The tone shifted when Trump turned to the women’s team, as Trump could be heard saying: "And we have to - I must tell you - we’re going to have to bring the women’s team."
Trump's shocking comments sparked a chorus of laughs from the men's team as he quipped: "[If I don’t] do that, I do believe I probably would be impeached, OK?"
After catching light of Trump's remarks and the men's team's reactions, people rushed to social media to share their outrage.
One person slammed the 'misogynistic disgusting a** joke' while another chimed in: "Yeah, you can hear the sexist joke as well."
A third questioned: "Will the women's hockey team be joining them as they won the gold too? First time for both."
Another lamented: "The women have medaled in all eight of their Olympic appearances and just won their 3rd gold. The men hadn't won gold since 1980, and have medaled in only half of their appearances. But of course, the women's invite was turned into a joke."
And a final critic echoed: "That phone call after the men’s game was such a low point it really tainted that win. It won’t look good for any of the men that actually go."
A spokesperson for the women’s team has explained that both the men’s and women’s hockey teams were formally invited to attend Trump’s address on Tuesday.
While it is not yet clear whether the male athletes will follow through on the plans, the women have declined the invitation.
"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," the team spokesperson said in a statement.
"Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honoured to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgement."
Tyla has reached out to both the White House and USA Hockey for comment.