House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said he received a phone call from President Donald Trump on Sunday night, once the U.S. men’s hockey team had won its thrilling gold-medal game against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Trump had invited the entire team to attend his State of the Union address while congratulating the players and coaches in the midst of their locker room celebration. But he still needed Johnson to make room for them.
‘Mike, we got to make some changes. We need some more guests,’ Johnson recounted on Tuesday, Feb. 24 regarding the conversation. When Johnson asked how many additional people might be attending the State of the Union, noting how cramped seating already is at the event, Trump told him, ‘I think the whole team.’
‘We’re going to work out logistics,’ Johnson told reporters, hours before Trump was set to speak in front of Congress, ‘and somehow, some way we’ll squeeze in the hockey players tonight, and it’ll be a great moment for America.’
Here’s more on the U.S. men’s hockey team’s appearance at President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday:
Will the USA men’s hockey team be at the State of the Union?
A large contingent of the gold-medal-winning team appears to be on its way to Washington, D.C., for the State of the Union after initially flying from Milan to Miami following the conclusion of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday. Local 10 News in South Florida captured video of members of the U.S. men’s hockey team boarding an Air Force 757 and taking off from Miami International Airport on Tuesday. The network reported the plane was headed for D.C.
Team USA and Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk also posted a photo to his Instagram account outside the plane, and it featured what appeared to be more than a dozen U.S. team members wearing their Olympic gold medals and holding up American flags.
Quinn Hughes, during an appearance on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ with brother Jack Hughes, confirmed they would be among those in attendance at the Capital Tuesday night for Trump’s State of the Union address.
‘I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say, but yes … we’re excited to go,’ Quinn Hughes said. ‘It’s something you don’t get to do … every Tuesday, but it’s going to be special for us.’
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, during an appearance on FOX News Channel’s ‘FOX & Friends’ Tuesday morning, also indicated he would be in Washington, D.C. when asked about the State of the Union. He called the chance to come to the White House on Tuesday night after winning the gold medal, ‘the cool experience of a lifetime,’ according to a transcript provided by FOX News.
Larkin then posted a photo of Team USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck holding up a ‘Secretary of Defense’ sign on the plane.
Celebrate USA hockey with new book
It’s unclear how many members of the U.S. men’s hockey team will be at the State of the Union address. But not everybody is able to attend, despite Trump’s comments to Johnson, because of the resumption of the NHL’s schedule beginning Wednesday, Feb. 25.
‘Some uncertainty around when Team USA players will rejoin their NHL clubs,’ TSN insider Darren Dreger reported on Feb. 23, via social media. ‘… A challenge for all NHL clubs with US players.’
The Denver Post reported Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson didn’t go on the White House trip in order to be with his family before the team plays in Utah on Thursday. Team USA forward Kyle Connor was also back on the ice with the Winnipeg Jets for Tuesday’s skate, according to The Athletic. Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning is also in Tampa despite not being on the ice for the Lightning’s practice on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Did Trump invite the USA women’s hockey team?
Yes, but the gold medal-winning United States women’s hockey team declined an offer by the White House to attend Tuesday’s State of the Union address. The team cited ‘timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments’ as the reason.
When Trump called the U.S. men’s hockey team after its gold medal win and offered a military plane for the State of the Union and a White House visit, he also said, ‘I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?’
‘We’re extremely happy for them,’ Quinn Hughes said Tuesday about the women’s hockey team, and then referenced the reaction to Trump’s locker room remarks. ‘Obviously a lot going on right now on social media surrounding our team and their team, but in the last couple summers, we did a lot of training with them and I actually know a lot of those girls really well. We’re extremely happy to come.’