U.S. Men's Hockey Team Meets Trump; Women's Team Declines State of the Union Invitation

Following their gold medal wins at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the U.S. men's hockey team met President Donald Trump at the White House and attended his State of the Union address, where goalie Connor Hellebuyck received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump invited both teams to the address, joking about the necessity of including the women's team, who declined due to prior commitments. The men's team’s laughter during the call sparked criticism over perceived disrespect toward the women players, highlighting ongoing gender equity discussions in sports.