Overview
- Players from the men’s team accepted the invitation and were photographed boarding an official U.S. aircraft en route to Washington for Tuesday night’s address, with House leaders preparing seats for them.
- The U.S. women’s team issued a statement thanking the president but declining the appearance because of previously scheduled academic, PWHL, and other professional obligations, with travel logistics also cited.
- Video from the men’s locker room shows Trump congratulating the team, inviting them to the address and the White House, and joking he would be impeached if he did not invite the women; Kash Patel is seen holding the phone.
- The footage prompted heavy online criticism that the men had slighted their female counterparts, and some members of the women’s team engaged with social media posts critical of the men’s reaction.
- Jack and Quinn Hughes said the teams are close and pushed back on the backlash, with Jack calling the discourse overly political and their mother, Ellen Hughes, describing strong camaraderie between the squads.