What did Trump say about US women's hockey team? White House visit uncertain

President Trump's phone call to the U.S. men's hockey team of their Olympic win sparked controversy over his comments about the women's team.

Trump joked that he would be impeached if he did not also invite the gold medal-winning women's team to the White House.

President Donald Trump's phone call to the gold medal-winning U.S. men's hockey team has brought ongoing controversy back home from Italy.

The men's Olympic win came after the U.S. women's hockey team beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to take their own gold medals.

Footage of Trump's congratulatory call to the men's team through FBI director Kash Patel in the locker room has gone viral. It put extra scrutiny on the team when they visited the White House and attended the State of the Union on Feb. 24, where Trump announced he would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

In the Feb. 22 phone call to the team, Trump said he would invite the gold medal-winning teams to the White House.

"I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that?" Trump said, receiving laughs from the group. He went on to say that if he didn't, "I do believe I probably would be impeached."

All but five players of the men's team went to the White House and the State of the Union. A USA Hockey spokesperson said the women's team did receive an invite, but they declined to visit.

"Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate," the statement read. "They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment."

U.S. women's hockey team responds to Trump's White House invite

"[The U.S. men's hockey team] beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime ... as did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House," Trump said.

USA Hockey did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY, but a spokesperson told Front Office Sports, "they’re honored and grateful to be invited and any opportunity to visit the White House as a team will be based on their schedules once their seasons conclude.”

Players weigh in on controversy

Rapper Flavor Flav said he would host a celebration for Olympic medal-winning women in response to the controversy.

Some players on the men's team have addressed the moment in the days since.

"People are so negative about things. 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," Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal for the gold, said.

Backup goalie on the men's team Jeremy Swayman said the team "should have reacted differently" to the comment and voiced support for the women's team.

"I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke, and unfortunately, that is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats," women's team captain Hilary Knight said on "SportsCenter."

She also said on "Good Morning America" on Feb. 26 that she wasn't sure if the team would go to the White House. The White House did not comment on a timeline for the visit, but said it looked forward to hosting the team.

Contributing: Nick Brinkerhoff, Mark Giannotto, Mike Brehm, James Powel, Marcus D. Smith, USA TODAY Network

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her onX (Twitter),Bluesky andTikTok.