JUST IN; United States men’s national ice hockey team who win Gold at Olympic Declines Donald Trump’s Invitation to Attend his State of the Union Address, as they states reason why

The United States men’s national ice hockey team—reported by multiple outlets as recent Olympic gold medalists—have declined an invitation from Donald Trump to attend his upcoming State of the Union address.
Why they said no ⤵️

According to a statement attributed to the team:
Focus on sport, not politics: Players emphasized that representing the country on the ice should remain separate from partisan events.
Unity over division: The team said they want their victory to be a moment that unites fans across the political spectrum, not one that could be interpreted as an endorsement.
Respect for all supporters: Athletes noted their fan base spans every background and belief, and they aim to honor that diversity.
“Our role is to compete and represent the United States through hockey—not to be drawn into political messaging,” the statement said.
The decision has already ignited debate online—praised by some as principled independence, criticized by others as a missed civic moment. One thing is clear: the team is standing firm on keeping sports first. 🏒🇺🇸