Trump makes sexist joke, US Hockey Olympians decline his invitation

The United States women's ice hockey team - Olympic gold medallist in Milan Cortina 2026, winning 2-1 against Canada a few days before their colleagues on the men's team did the same - declined an invitation to attend Donald Trump's State of the Union address, scheduled for Tuesday evening.

The decision comes after the online release of a video capturing the phone call between the US president and the men's hockey team after the victory against Canada. "I could send a military plane or something if you want. It's the most amazing night. It's the most important speech,' says the US president over the phone - on speakerphone, held by FBI director Kash Patel in the middle of the locker room - amid thunderous applause, as the team toasts with cans of beer and shouts 'this is it'.

"I have to warn you: we'll have to bring the women's team as well, you know that, don't you?" continues Trump, eliciting laughter from the players. "Otherwise I'm afraid I'd be impeached," the tycoon ironizes.

The Nbc quoted a statement from the women's team saying that the players "will not be able to attend" the State of the Union address. "We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our US women's hockey team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement," the statement read. "Due to time and academic and professional commitments already scheduled after the Games,the athletes will not be able to participate." The US hockey women, already Olympic gold medallists in 2018, had accepted the invitation on that occasion.

With the men's team, however, there is good blood: Jack Hughes, who scored the decisive goal in the final, said that at that moment his first thought went to his colleague from the women's team. "The first person I thought of was Megan Keller, who scored the gold medal goal the other night," he said in an interview immediately after the victory.