(Gray News) — Team USA hockey star Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal that secured the team’s Olympic gold medal, said he is excited to go to the White House following President Donald Trump’s invitation.
The U.S. men’s hockey team has received backlash on social media for partying with FBI Director Kash Patel in the locker room after their big win and for speaking with Trump over a phone call.
United States’ Jack Hughes (86), who scored the winning overtime goal, celebrates after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(Carolyn Kaster | AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
In videos posted on social media, Trump can be heard on speakerphone inviting the men’s hockey team to the White House and then making a joke about “having to” invite the gold‑medal‑winning U.S. women’s hockey team.
“What would really be cool, and we’ll do the White House next time, we’ll just have some fun, we have medals for you guys. And we have to, I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?” Trump said with a laugh.
The team erupted in laughter.
“I do believe that I would probably be impeached [if the women’s team was not invited],” Trump said.
Since the videos of the phone call went viral on social media, the men’s team has received criticism.
Team United States players pose together after receiving their gold medals after the women’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)(Carolyn Kaster | AP)
The women’s team has declined Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union address scheduled for Tuesday night. It’s unclear whether they will attend any future events at the White House.
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” a USA Hockey spokesperson told NBC News. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.”
After the men’s team arrived back home on U.S. soil, Hughes told The Daily Mail he felt that people were “making something out of almost nothing,” referring to Trump’s joke about inviting the women’s team.
Gold medalists of the United States pose after the men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)(Hassan Ammar | AP)
“Everyone’s giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today, but people are so negative out there and they are just trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing,” Hughes told The Daily Mail.
He added, “People are so negative about things. I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them [the women’s team], how proud we are of them, and we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us.”
When asked whether he was excited to meet Trump, Hughes said, “Yeah, we’re excited. Everything is so political. We’re athletes. We’re so proud to represent the U.S. and when you get the chance to go to White House and meet the president, we’re proud to be Americans and that’s so patriotic. No matter what your views are, we’re super excited to go to the White House tomorrow and be a part of that.”
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