Trump was caught on video joking that he was basically being forced to invite the U.S. women’s hockey team after praising and inviting the men’s team, which many people saw as a dig at the women.

What Did Trump Say About the Women’s Hockey Team?

During a congratulatory phone call to the U.S. men’s hockey team after their Olympic gold medal win over Canada, Trump invited them to attend his upcoming State of the Union and visit the White House. While extending that invitation, he brought up the women’s team, who had also just won gold against Canada.

Key lines from his comments included:

  • He said, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?” with a joking tone that made it sound like an obligation rather than enthusiasm.
  • He then added that if he didn’t invite them, he’d “probably be impeached,” again playing it for laughs.

The men in the locker room laughed at the remark, which helped fuel the backlash once the video was shared online.

Why People Are Talking About It

The moment blew up because the context is actually historic: this was the first time both the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams won Olympic gold at the same Games, each beating Canada 2–1. So when Trump framed the women’s invitation as something he “had” to do, critics felt it undercut their achievement.

Reactions split roughly into two camps:

  • Critics
    • Called the comments dismissive and sexist, arguing that making the women’s invite sound like a chore minimized their equal gold-medal success.
* Pointed out a pattern of objectifying or joking about women in Trump’s past behavior, saying this fit that long-running narrative.
  • Defenders
    • Argued it was just Trump’s usual joking style, saying it was obviously meant as a light quip, not an insult.
* Noted that the administration _did_ formally invite the women’s team to the State of the Union and recognize their gold medal.

What the Women’s Team Did Next

USA Hockey’s representatives said both teams had, in fact, been invited to the State of the Union. A spokesperson for the women’s team emphasized they were “sincerely grateful” for the invitation and the recognition of their “extraordinary” or “remarkable” achievement.

However:

  • The U.S. women’s team declined the invitation, citing existing academic and professional commitments after the Games.
  • That refusal quickly became part of the story, with headlines highlighting that the team had “turned down” or “rejected” Trump after his joke.

How Forums and Social Media Are Spinning It

On political forums and social platforms, the clip is fueling a wider culture- war style debate.

Common themes in those conversations:

  • Users angry at Trump say the joke shows how women’s sports still get treated as second-tier, even when they win on the biggest stage.
  • Others insist people are “overreacting,” framing it as another example of every Trump remark being taken in the worst possible light.
  • Some posters celebrate the women’s team for not going, reading their decision as a quiet protest rather than just a scheduling issue, even though the official explanation is about prior obligations.

Quick TL;DR

  • Trump called the U.S. men’s hockey team after their Olympic gold and invited them to the State of the Union and the White House.
  • While doing that, he joked, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team,” and said he’d “probably be impeached” if he didn’t invite them, which many heard as a backhanded comment about the women.
  • The remarks triggered backlash online, with critics calling it sexist and dismissive, while supporters framed it as harmless humor.
  • The women’s team said they were grateful for the invite but declined, citing school and work commitments after the Games.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.