U.S. Men's Hockey Team Criticized for Attending Trump's State of the Union

ESPN's Peter Rosenberg calls players 'sad little pawns' in political spectacle

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:57am

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping, fragmented images of hockey players in motion, conveying the turbulent political controversy surrounding the team's actions.The U.S. men's hockey team's divisive decision to attend the State of the Union address after their Olympic triumph exposes the complex intersection of sports and politics.Washington Today

The U.S. men's hockey team's decision to attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address after winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics has sparked intense debate. While the team received a standing ovation, ESPN's Peter Rosenberg criticized the players, calling them 'sad little pawns' in a political spectacle. The controversy deepened when the team was seen laughing at a joke Trump made at the expense of the U.S. women's hockey team, who had also won gold.

Why it matters

The intersection of sports and politics is a complex and divisive issue, with athletes often facing pressure to take political stances or be seen as complicit in political agendas. The U.S. men's hockey team's actions have reignited the debate over whether athletes can truly separate themselves from politics, especially when invited to high-profile events like the State of the Union.

The details

The U.S. men's hockey team visited the White House earlier in the day and then attended the State of the Union address, where they received a bipartisan standing ovation. However, five players - Jake Guentzel, Kyle Connor, Brock Nelson, Jake Oettinger, and Jackson LaCombe - opted out of the White House trip, a silent yet powerful statement. Team leaders Auston Matthews and Clayton Keller attended the White House meeting but were notably absent during Trump's speech. The controversy deepened when the team was seen laughing at a joke Trump made at the expense of the U.S. women's hockey team, who had also won gold.

  • The U.S. men's hockey team visited the White House earlier in the day on February 4, 2026.
  • The team attended President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on February 4, 2026.

The players

Peter Rosenberg

An ESPN Radio host who criticized the U.S. men's hockey team for attending the State of the Union address.

Jake Guentzel

A player on the U.S. men's hockey team who opted out of the White House visit.

Auston Matthews

A team leader on the U.S. men's hockey team who attended the White House meeting but was absent during Trump's speech.

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What they’re saying

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What’s next

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The takeaway

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