The drama surrounding the men's and women's hockey teams for the United States just won't die down.
A week ago, the U.S. women's hockey team defeated Canada in overtime of the final thanks to a game-winning goal from defenseman Megan Keller. Just three days later, Jack Hughes lifted the men's squad to a gold-medal game victory over Canada with an overtime winner of his own.
As Hughes and the rest of Team USA were celebrating their victory at the Olympics, they received a phone call from President Donald Trump. Not only did he invite them to the White House, he made an unnecessary joke about the women's team.
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” the president told the men’s hockey team. “I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
© Amber Searls-Imagn Images.
Roughly 24 hours later, the U.S. women's hockey team politely declined an invitation to the White House.
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” the team said in a statement. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
The men's team, meanwhile, was in attendance for Trump's State of the Union address at the House Chamber. There were plenty of Americans who were outraged by their willingness to pose for photos with the president.
During this Thursday's episode of "Boomer and Gio" on WFAN, former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason provided an update on the controversy regarding the U.S. men's hockey team.
Esiason said a few members of the U.S. men's hockey team apologized to the women's team for laughing at Trump's comments.
"What's a little bit saddening to me is no one is really covering how close these two teams really were and how they were supporting each other," Esiason said. "These teams got along so well. You think those players on that American men's and women's hockey teams are not going to be supporting each other? By the way, some members on the men's side texted the women's team and said they were sorry they laughed at the president's joke."
Will the women's team visit the White House?
During his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, Trump said the women's hockey team will soon visit him at the White House.
“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.
While it's unclear if this meeting will actually happen, U.S. women’s hockey star Hilary Knight sent a message to the president while on "Good Morning America" this Thursday.
“I thought the call in itself was distasteful and an awesome learning moment to refocus the narrative and understand our words matter, and how we speak about women matters, and we need to celebrate this team,” Knight said, via ABC News.
Only time will tell if Trump and the U.S. women's hockey team can work out their differences.