5 US Men's Hockey Players Skip Trump's State of the Union

The players opted out of the White House visit following their Olympic gold medal win.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 1:57am

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Twenty of the 25 players on the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team attended President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday, but five players - Jake Guentzel, Brock Nelson, Kyle Connor, Jake Oettinger, and Jackson LaCombe - did not make the trip to Washington, D.C. The U.S. team won the gold medal in men's hockey at the Milan Cortina Olympics, their first Olympic gold since the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980.

Why it matters

The decision by some players to skip the White House visit highlights the ongoing political divisions in the U.S., with athletes increasingly using their platforms to make statements about social and political issues. This comes after the U.S. women's hockey team also declined the invitation due to scheduling conflicts.

The details

The five players who did not attend the State of the Union and White House visit play for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and Anaheim Ducks. The U.S. men's hockey team beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal at the Olympics.

  • The U.S. men's hockey team won the gold medal on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
  • The team received an invitation to the State of the Union from President Trump following their gold medal win.
  • The State of the Union address took place on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.

The players

Jake Guentzel

A forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who did not attend the State of the Union.

Brock Nelson

A forward for the Colorado Avalanche who did not attend the State of the Union.

Kyle Connor

A forward for the Winnipeg Jets who did not attend the State of the Union.

Jake Oettinger

A goaltender for the Dallas Stars who did not attend the State of the Union.

Jackson LaCombe

A defenseman for the Anaheim Ducks who did not attend the State of the Union.

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The takeaway

The absence of five players from the U.S. men's hockey team's visit to the White House and State of the Union address underscores the growing trend of athletes using their platforms to make political statements, even in the wake of a major championship victory.