Trump announces US women’s hockey team WILL visit White House after they rejected his first invite
President Donald Trump announced that the United States’ women’s hockey team will be visiting the White House at a later date after they initially declined an invitation.
During his State of the Union Address on Tuesday evening, Trump introduced the men’s hockey team after their gold medal victory just two days ago.
‘They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw. As did the American women who will soon be coming to the White House,’ Trump told a filled chamber of Congress.
After the men’s hockey team defeated Canada for the gold medal, Trump was overheard on a phone call inviting all of them to the White House on Tuesday before the State of the Union.
On the phone, Trump told the players, ‘We have, I must tell you, we are going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that. I do believe I would probably be impeached (if he didn’t invite them).’
That comment led to laughs from the men in the room and allegations of sexism toward all those involved.
President Donald Trump revealed the US women’s hockey team will visit the White House
The women’s hockey team won the gold medal by beating Canada in overtime at the Olympics
Members of the men’s Olympic hockey team attended the address to Congress on Tuesday
The women’s team did eventually receive an invite, but declined the offer.
‘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,’ USA Hockey told NBC News.
‘Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.
‘They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.’
But now, it seems, the team has agreed to return to the White House at some point to mark the occasion of their third gold medal win at the Olympics.
The women’s team beat Canada 2-1 in overtime thanks to a marvelous goal from Megan Keller – marking the eighth total medal for the US women’s hockey team at the Olympics.
Just a few days later, the men’s team beat Canada in the knockout stages for the first time ever and won its third gold medal at the Olympics.
It’s the first gold for the United States since the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, when the US beat Finland after defeating the Soviet Union in the ‘Miracle on Ice.’
It’s the third gold medal that the American women’s team has won at the Winter Olympics
The men also won their third gold medal – their first since the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid
Jack Hughes scored the game winner past Jordan Binnington to earn the top prize for his home country.
Canada had previously beaten the United States in the gold medal games at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and in 2010 at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
This was the first Olympics since 2014 where NHL players were allowed to take part. Canada won the gold medal at those games in Sochi, beating the United States in the semifinals.
