While President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. women’s hockey team will soon be joining him at the White House, it remains unclear whether the visit will actually take place.
Trump’s comments came during his State of the Union on Tuesday night, with several members of the gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team in attendance. The president then said that plans were already in motion for the women’s team to make its own White House visit after also winning the gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime as everybody saw,” Trump said of the men’s team. “As did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House.”
But it remains to be determined whether such a visit will actually happen. A USA Hockey spokesperson tells Front Office Sports that the team is “honored” to receive the invite but remained noncommittal.
“Players are back competing with their professional and collegiate teams and are in the midst of their season,” the spokesperson said. “They’re honored and grateful to be invited and any opportunity to visit the White House as a team will be based on their schedules once their seasons conclude.”
Asked to clarify whether Team USA is committed to making a White House visit, the spokesperson said that’s “TBD,” once again citing schedule and timing.
In response to USA Hockey’s statement, a White House official tells FOS: “As the President and U.S. Women’s hockey team has stated, we look forward to hosting them at the White House after their tremendous victory and celebration.”
The White House did extend an invitation for the women’s team to attend the State of the Union alongside the men, which the women declined, similarly citing timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments. Seven college players are on the women’s team, and with the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four scheduled for March 20–22 and the PWHL regular season running through late April, it doesn’t appear that a White House visit will be feasible any sooner than that—if one is ultimately going to come to fruition.
There will certainly be plenty of intrigue surrounding whether the Team USA women wind up taking the trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Trump has faced backlash for comments he made during a celebratory call with the men’s team shortly after its overtime victory over Canada in the gold medal game. “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team. You do know that?” Trump said, eliciting laughs from the men’s players, before joking, “I do believe I probably would be impeached” if he didn’t invite the women.
Hilary Knight was asked about the incident on SportsCenter on Tuesday afternoon.
“I think there’s a genuine level of support there and respect, and I think that’s being overshadowed by sort of a quick lapse,” she said.
“I think the guys were in a tough spot,” she said of Trump’s call. “So it’s a shame that this storyline and narrative has kind of blown and [is] overshadowing the connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering one another on. … Our achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything less than how great they are.”
Appearing on Good Morning America on Tuesday, Team USA men’s star Quinn Hughes addressed the social media firestorm.
“We’re really extremely happy for them,” Hughes said. “Obviously, a lot going on social media right now surrounding our team and their team. But in the last couple of summers, we’ve done a lot of training with them and got to know a lot of those girls really well. Extremely happy for them.”
Meanwhile, Team USA reserve goalie Jeremy Swayman expressed remorse for the men’s response to Trump’s phone call while speaking with reporters Wednesday.
“We should’ve reacted differently,” the Bruins goalie said. “We are so excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team. To share that gold medal with them is something we’re forever grateful for. Now that we’re home, we get to share that together forever and see that incredible support for the USA.”
