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U.S. Olympic hockey teams split over White House gold medal celebration

One team stood with Trump, the other walked away. How a gold medal celebration exposed deeper divides in American sports and politics.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
The image shows a group of men standing on top of an ice rink, wearing medals and holding a trophy....
The image shows a group of men standing on top of an ice rink, wearing medals and holding a trophy. There are a few people sitting on their knees and a few standing, and in the background there are glass walls and other objects. It appears to be a celebration of their victory, as they have just won a championship.

U.S. Olympic hockey teams split over White House gold medal celebration

The U.S. men's ice hockey team celebrated their Olympic gold win at the White House after accepting an invitation from President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the women's team declined to attend, sparking widespread discussion. The event also drew attention to comments made by Trump and reactions from athletes like Jack and Quinn Hughes.

The men's team secured gold by defeating Canada in a thrilling final. Jack Hughes, who scored the decisive goal, later expressed pride in representing the U.S. alongside fellow gold medallist Megan Keller. His brother Quinn, also on the team, faced scrutiny with him after Trump's remarks during the White House call-in.

Trump invited the men's team to the State of the Union address, joking that he might face impeachment if he didn't also invite the women's team. The men appeared to laugh along, which triggered online outrage. The women's team had already declined the invitation, citing prior commitments, and no alternative celebration was publicly offered to them.

Former NHL goaltender Dominik Hasek praised the women's team for rejecting the invitation. Meanwhile, skier Hunter Hess had earlier criticised the U.S. administration during the Games, prompting a response from Trump. Flavor Flav extended an invitation to the women's team for a separate celebration in Las Vegas.

Ellen Hughes, mother of Jack and Quinn, defended the men's team and highlighted the unity between the men's and women's squads. Despite the controversy, she emphasised mutual respect among the athletes.

The men's team attended the White House event with 20 players present, while the women's team stood by their decision to skip it. The incident underscored divisions in public opinion, with some supporting the athletes' choices and others criticising the political undertones. No further official celebrations for the women's team were confirmed following their refusal.

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