Both the USA hockey men’s and women’s teams captured gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering dramatic 2-1 overtime victories over Canada. The wins marked a historic moment for USA Hockey, with both programs defeating their long-time rivals on the sport’s biggest stage.
The celebrations were immediate and public. Video surfaced of the USA hockey men’s team celebrating in the locker room, including a FaceTime call with President Donald Trump. During the call, Trump congratulated the team and extended an invitation to attend his State of the Union address scheduled for Tuesday, February 24. He later added that the women’s team should be invited as well.
With the NHL regular season resuming Wednesday and both teams returning from Italy amid severe weather conditions in the northeastern United States, questions quickly emerged: Will USA Hockey attend the State of the Union?
Is USA Hockey at the State of the Union?
As of now, there has been no official confirmation that the men’s team will attend the address.
While members of the men’s team appeared to accept the invitation during the FaceTime call, neither the White House nor USA Hockey has formally confirmed attendance.
According to The Athletic, the men’s team is scheduled to celebrate in Miami on Monday night. Trump has reportedly invited them both to attend the State of the Union on Tuesday and to visit the White House on Wednesday for an official recognition ceremony.
However, logistical complications remain.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic that players may decide individually whether to attend. Any participation would also require approval from their respective NHL clubs due to the regular season schedule restarting Wednesday.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson also acknowledged the logistical challenges of hosting the team during a formal joint session of Congress. He noted that while special guests cannot be placed on the House floor, discussions are ongoing about potentially accommodating the players in the gallery.
Women’s Team Declines Invitation
The U.S. women’s hockey team has declined the invitation to attend the State of the Union.
In a statement, a team spokesperson expressed appreciation for the recognition but confirmed they would not be present.
“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,” the statement read. “They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
Donald Trump’s Call to Team USA
President Trump called the USA hockey men’s team following their gold-medal victory over Canada. During the call, he congratulated the players and invited them to the State of the Union, reportedly offering transportation assistance if necessary.
The call drew attention on social media after Trump remarked that the women’s team should also be invited, joking that failing to do so might lead to criticism.
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, who participated in the call, described it simply as a congratulatory message. Tkachuk stated, “It’s an honor to wear this jersey and represent the U.S.”
Tkachuk also serves on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and has previously visited the White House following Stanley Cup victories.
What Time Is the State of the Union?
President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, at 9 p.m. ET.
The address is expected to cover immigration policy, economic matters, and recent national achievements, including Team USA’s success at the Winter Olympics.
How to Watch the State of the Union
The State of the Union will air live on major broadcast networks including ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, as well as cable networks such as CNN and MSNBC.
It will also be streamed online via the White House website, C-Span, and official digital platforms.
