Trump confirms Women’s Ice Hockey team will attend White House after State of the Union invite controversy
Topics: Olympics, Donald Trump, Sport
Phoebe Tonks
Featured Image Credit: Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Topics: Olympics, Donald Trump, Sport
As Donald Trump’s State of the Union address got underway on Tuesday evening, it was clear Ice Hockey was very much on his mind, as he welcomed Team USA’s men’s team into the chamber fresh from their gold medal winning victory over Canada - and confirmed that the women’s team would soon be joining him at the White House.
During his address, Trump praised both teams for their efforts at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, before going on to confess that the gold medal winning women’s team would be joining him shortly, just days after he courted controversy with his comments about inviting them at all.
The situation first unfolded on Sunday February 22, when Trump extended an invitation to the men’s Ice Hockey team to attend the State of the Union address, following their final stage victory over rivals Canada at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
“Unbelievable. You were all unbelievable. That team is pretty good you played,” Trump said in a phone call with the team.
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The US leader continued: “I’ll tell you what – I just told my people two minutes ago. I said, we’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. We could send a military plane or something. But if you would like to [attend], it’s the coolest night.”
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said, joking that he 'probably would be impeached'.
The Women’s team ultimately went on to decline the invitation to attend citing difficulties with travel logistics, however the US Men’s team was more than happy to show their support to Trump during Tuesday night’s speech.
Welcomed into the chamber with a standing ovation, the team were all seen sporting their gold medals as Trump drew attention to their achievements.
“They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime as everybody saw, as did the American women who will soon be coming to the White House,” Trump said.
“They were in the oval office before, but I want to say a second very big congratulations to Team USA.”
The president then went on to reveal that he had plans to reward one person in the team in particular, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
“I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as Connor Hellebuyck,” Trump admitted. “46 shots on goal and I asked him: ‘The one shot, where you put your stick in the back and it hit the neck of your stick and bounced off, did you practice that or was it lucky?’”
“He refused to answer that question”
Trump also went on to reveal that after discussing it with the rest of Connor’s teammates, who had voted in favour of the decision - he was going to award Connor with the country’s highest civilian honor, the presidential medal of freedom.
“I just want to tell you, that the members of this great Hockey squad will be very happy to hear, based on their vote and my vote - and in this case my vote was more important - that I will soon be presenting Connor with the highest civilian honor,” he continued.
“It’s been given to many athletes over the years, but when I say ‘many’, not too many, like 12. The highest civilian honor in our country, the presidential medal of freedom.”