A petition has been launched, calling out the U.S. men's hockey team, urging them to apologize and refuse to attend the State of the Union on Tuesday night.
The U.S. men's hockey team was seen laughing at a joke about the U.S. women's team following their gold medal win over Canada on Sunday. President Trump joked in a phone call that he would have to invite the women's team to the State of the Union, too.
"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, which has nearly 20,000 signatures, 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."
© David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images
One former ESPN host is not happy with the men's team.
Former ESPN host Keith Olbermann has called out the U.S. men's team, demanding an apology from them, as well.
"It's official: US Gold Winning Olympic Hockey team declined invitation to be political props for Trump at the SOTU tomorrow. The women, that is. The men are still too stupid, self-absorbed and misogynistic to realize that going, will stick to them permanently," he wrote on X.
The former SportsCenter host is urging NHL teams to make up excuses so the players can skip the event.
The 2026 State of the Union is scheduled for Tuesday night in Washington, D.C.