Many in the United States will no doubt have their eyes glued to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.
After their gold medal triumph over Canada at the Milan Olympics, the United States men’s hockey team will also be closely watched to see whether its players will make it to Washington, D.C. The president invited them to attend, and tour the White House, in a call to the locker room after the victory.
The women’s hockey team, which also won a gold medal with a victory over Canada, was also invited to attend the State of the Union but declined President Donald Trump’s invitation citing ‘timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.’
‘They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment,’ a USA Hockey spokesperson said.
The fallout of the invitations
Social media was in an uproar following the men’s hockey team’s victory, when Trump spoke to the team by phone to congratulate them while they were celebrating in the locker room. The video showed FBI director Kash Patel chugging beer and celebrating with the hockey players.
Patel called Trump and put him on speakerphone to talk to the players.
“What would really be cool, and we’ll do the White House next time, we’ll just have some fun, we have medals for you guys. And we have to, I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?” Trump said on the call.
Then Trump seemed to slight the women’s hockey team, saying, “I must tell you we’re going to have to bring the women, too; you do know that. Believe me, I probably would be impeached, OK?”
The men’s hockey team’s laughed at the comment, leading to outrage on social media.
The men’s hockey team accepted the president’s invitation on Sunday but it’s unknown how many will attend the address.
There is a petition on Move On asking the men’s hockey team to apologize to women’s team and skip the State of the Union.