U.S. men’s hockey team honored at State of the Union; Trump says women’s team coming to White House

Members of the gold medal-winning United States men’s Olympic hockey team, invited by President Donald Trump to the State of the Union, were recognized during the speech Tuesday night and received a standing ovation.

During his acknowledgement of the team, which lasted six minutes, Trump also made reference to the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s team, which he said “will soon be coming to the White House.” Trump invited the women’s team to the State of the Union, but the team decided not to attend, citing in a statement to The Athletic “the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.” A spokesperson for USA Hockey did not immediately respond to a message asking about the plans for the women’s team.

After the men’s team of 25 players arrived in Miami from Milan at the end of the Olympics, 20 of them made the trip to Washington, D.C., and attended an event in the Oval Office on Tuesday with Trump. Not present were Kyle Connor, Jake Guentzel, Jackson LaCombe, Brock Nelson and Jake Oettinger. Three more players — team captain Auston Matthews, Clayton Keller and Dylan Larkin — were not seen during the speech.

Good as GOLD 🇺🇸🥇

We are honored to welcome our men’s U.S. hockey team to the Capitol ahead of @POTUS’s State of the Union address.

We are so proud of their historic achievement and all they represent to our great nation. pic.twitter.com/HDZ4JYaZSl

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 25, 2026

Trump also announced during the speech that he planned to award goaltender Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the two highest civilian awards in the United States.

“I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as goalie Connor Hellebuyck,” Trump said.

At the 12-minute mark of the speech, Trump referenced the players for the first time, two days after their 2-1 overtime victory over Canada for the United States’ first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980.

“Our country is winning again,” Trump said. “In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me — please, please, please Mr. President, we’re winning too much. We can’t take it anymore. We’re not used to winning in our country. Until you came along, we’re just always losing, but now, we’re winning too much.

“And I say, no no no. You’re going to win again. You’re going to win big. You’re gonna win bigger than ever, and to prove that point — to prove that point — here with us tonight is a group of winners who just made the entire nation proud: the men’s gold medal Olympic hockey team.”

With that cue, 17 players entered the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol from the upper concourse, where, clad in matching Olympic sweaters, they stood in two separate aisles for several minutes as they received a loud ovation and chants of “USA.” One group was led by brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes, the other by Matthew Tkachuk and Hellebuyck.

Trump said he asked Hellebuyck’s teammates if he should receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which has been awarded to an average of 11 people per year since its introduction in 1963. During Trump’s first term, he awarded the medal 24 times overall, including 11 times to athletes.

“I said, ‘I’m not giving it if anyone goes no,’” Trump said. “And every single one of them rapidly put up their hand. So I want to thank you all. What a special job you did. What special champions you are.”