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Former ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann took issue with the U.S. men’s ice hockey team wanting to accept President Donald Trump’s invitation to his State of the Union address Tuesday night, while applauding the women’s hockey team for declining the same gesture.
Both teams are fresh off Olympic gold over Canada, with overtime needed in each contest by Jack Hughes for the men and Megan Keller for the women. As such, Trump extended an invitation to both teams to his address, although the women’s hockey team said “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments” led to declining the invitation.
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation to our gold medal-winning USA women’s hockey team and greatly appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary performance,” USA Hockey told NBC News. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments after the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.
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Keith Olbermann on “The View” on March 25, 2016. (Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
“They were honored to be included and are grateful for the recognition.”
Olbermann was happy to see that news.
“It’s the official US gold winning Olympic hockey team that turned down the invitation to be political props for Trump at SOTU tomorrow,” he wrote on X. “The women, that is.”
He then took aim at the men’s hockey team, which was seen responding to Trump’s invitation during a phone call in the locker room after defeating Team Canada to close out the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Several players interrupted Trump when he suggested they travel to the State of the Union address on an official invitation.
“Men are still too stupid, self-absorbed and misogynistic to realize that walking will stick with them permanently,” Olbermann’s post concluded.
Olbermann also took exception to the White House posting a photo of an eagle attacking a goose after Team USA’s 2-1 win, which marked the first time since the “Miracle on Ice” team of 1980 that the Americans won gold in men’s hockey.
The post came in response to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks about Canada when they defeated the US in the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, writing at the time: “You can’t take our country – and you can’t take our game.”
President Donald Trump attends a ceremony in Florida to dedicate the renaming of a 4-mile stretch of Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach County to “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard” on January 16, 2026. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
“Trump’s Trash White House always acts like it’s never been there before,” Olbermann, a longtime Trump critic, wrote on X.
Meanwhile, players like Matthew Tkachuk thought it was “super cool” that Trump called them after the win.
“It’s an honor to hear from the president of the United States,” he said after arriving at Miami International Airport on Monday. “To hear that he supported us and all the other athletes who wanted us to bring home as many gold medals as we can. We are certainly honored to represent him and the hundreds of millions across the country and bring back a gold medal.”
It is unknown if the men’s hockey team officially accepted the invitation. They continued their celebrations in Miami, including a performance at E11EVEN MIAMI nightclub on Monday night.
Trump’s address is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, while NHL programming resumes Wednesday night league-wide.
Television personality Keith Olbermann speaks on stage during the Olbermann panel at the ESPN portion of the 2013 Summer Television Critics Association tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 24, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
During the phone call with the men’s team, Trump explained that he might “send a military plane or something” for the team, a player interrupted him and said, “We’re in.”
Trump also brought up the women’s hockey team on the phone call, saying, “I’ve got to tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you know that.” Trump also joked, “I think I’d probably be impeached,” if he didn’t invite the women’s team as well as the men.
The professional women’s hockey league will also resume play on Thursday night.
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