Nearly 20,000 people have signed a petition urging the U.S. men's hockey team to change their decision.
The U.S. men's hockey team will be attending the State of the Union on Tuesday night in Washington, D.C. The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, personally invited both the men's and women's U.S. hockey teams following their gold medal wins. The U.S. women's team declined, saying that they have other responsibilities, while the men accepted.
"We’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night," President Trump said. "I could send a military plane or something, but if you would like to, it’s the coolest night."
© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The U.S. men also caught fire on social media, when they laughed at a joke President Trump made about the U.S. women's team.
"I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that?" he said.
"If I don't do that, I'll probably be impeached."
Now, a petition has been launched.
Nearly 20,000 have signed the petition
The petition is urging the U.S. men's hockey team to apologize for laughing at the women's team joke while also urging them to skip the State of the Union.
"There's no excuse for the U.S. men's team—as well as the president and FBI director—using their platforms to undermine, mock, and denigrate women athletes," the petition reads.
"The women's hockey team has made it clear they won't be attending the State of the Union. Now the men’s hockey team must apologize publicly, and do the same."
As of Tuesday morning, 19,415 people have signed the petition.
The State of the Union, meanwhile, is set for Tuesday night.