U.S. Women's Hockey Team Declines State of the Union Invite

Scheduling conflicts and prior commitments cited for not attending President Trump's address.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:13am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the U.S. women's hockey team's gold medal win and their decision to decline the State of the Union invitation, with sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.The U.S. women's hockey team's refusal to attend the State of the Union address reflects the complex political climate surrounding such high-profile events.Today in Miami

The U.S. women's hockey team, fresh off winning the gold medal, has politely declined an invitation to attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address. The team cited scheduling conflicts and prior commitments as the reasons for not being able to participate, despite the honor of the invitation.

Why it matters

The decision by the women's hockey team to decline the invitation highlights the complex political climate surrounding the State of the Union address, with several Democratic legislators also announcing they will not attend. This refusal could signal a broader trend of athletes using their platforms to make political statements.

The details

Many players were not slated to arrive back in North America until Monday evening, having traveled on commercial flights, while the men's team had already flown by charter to Miami. This difference in travel arrangements made it difficult to accommodate the request on short notice. President Trump had extended the invitation to the men's team after their victory, even offering to send a military plane, but the women's team cited prior commitments as the reason for their inability to attend.

  • The U.S. women's hockey team won the gold medal in early 2026.
  • The invitation to attend the State of the Union address was extended on Monday, April 7, 2026.
  • The State of the Union address was scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

U.S. Women's Hockey Team

The U.S. women's hockey team recently won the gold medal in an international competition.

President Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who extended the invitation to the U.S. women's hockey team to attend the State of the Union address.

Mike Johnson

The Republican House Speaker, who acknowledged the logistical hurdles of hosting a large group within the House chamber during the State of the Union address.

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What they’re saying

“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. 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 acknowledgment.”

— U.S. Women's Hockey Team

“I could send a military plane or something, if you would like to — it's the coolest night, it's the biggest speech.”

— President Donald Trump

What’s next

The U.S. women's hockey team will continue their post-Olympic commitments and celebrations, while the political debate surrounding the State of the Union address and athlete participation will likely continue.

The takeaway

This decision by the U.S. women's hockey team to decline the invitation to the State of the Union address highlights the complex political climate surrounding such events, as well as the practical challenges of accommodating large groups on short notice. It also raises questions about the role of athletes in political discourse and their use of platforms to make statements.