5 Team USA Hockey Stars Decline Trump Invite to White House

Olympic champions skip meeting with former president after winning gold medal

Feb. 24, 2026 at 11:35pm

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Five members of the U.S. men's hockey team that won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics declined an invitation to visit the White House and meet with former President Donald Trump. The players arrived in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday but opted not to attend the event with the former president.

Why it matters

This marks the latest instance of high-profile athletes choosing not to visit the White House during the Trump administration, continuing a trend of sports stars using their platform to make political statements.

The details

The five players who declined the invitation were not named in the report, but the decision comes after several other U.S. Olympic teams and individual athletes have skipped White House visits under Trump. The hockey players were in Washington for other events and activities related to their gold medal win.

  • The U.S. men's hockey team won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
  • The players arrived in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • They were invited to meet with former President Donald Trump at the White House.

The players

U.S. Men's Hockey Team

The U.S. men's hockey team that won the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who invited the hockey team to the White House.

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What they’re saying

“We must respect the players' decision and their right to choose whether or not to attend a White House event.”

— White House Spokesperson

The takeaway

This incident underscores the continued political divide in the United States, with professional athletes using their platforms to make statements about the country's leadership and social issues.