Team USA hockey star Jack Hughes responded to the backlash over the men's team accepting President Donald Trump's White House invitation after winning gold, when the women's team declined the offer.
On Feb. 22, Hughes, 24, scored the winning goal to defeat Canada in overtime and secure the first gold medal for the men's hockey team since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" win. The women's hockey team also secured gold on Feb. 19.
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On Monday, Feb. 23, Hughes spoke with the Daily Mail about Trump inviting the men's team to the White House. "Yeah, we're excited," he said. "Everything is so political. We're athletes."
Hughes continued, "We're so proud to represent the U.S., and when you get the chance to go to White House and meet the President, we're proud to be Americans, and that's so patriotic. No matter what your views are, we're super excited to go to the White House tomorrow and be a part of that."
Following the Team USA Men's Hockey win, Trump personally invited them to tour the White House and attend the State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24. In a video of the call, made through FBI Director Kash Patel's phone, the POTUS, 79, said, “We’ll do the White House the next day. We’ll just have some fun. We have medals for you guys."
Trump added, "I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that," joking that he would “probably be impeached” if he didn’t invite them.
You can hear the genuine pride in Donald Trumps voice when he called the Team USA Hockey Team pic.twitter.com/ch6GbXShwh
— Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) February 23, 2026After the video circulated on social media, Hughes and other players faced criticism for not only accepting Trump's White House invite but for laughing at Trump's joke about the women's team.
"People are so negative about things," Hughes told the Daily Mail. "I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them and we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us."
The women's hockey team declined Trump's offer to attend the State of the Union address on Feb. 24, NBC reported.
"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," a spokesperson said in the statement. "Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate."
The message added, "They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment."
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