President Donald Trump, in a phone call congratulating the U.S. men’s hockey team on their gold medal win at the Winter Olympics, appeared to make a joke about the women’s team that has sparked outrage and criticism on social media.
In the call, Trump said that because he was inviting the men to his State of the Union address, he’d need to invite the gold medal-winning women’s team as well or he “would be impeached.”
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said when extending the invitation to the men’s team.
If he did not invite the women’s team, “I do believe I probably would be impeached,” he said.
The room quickly fills with laughter from players, though one person can be heard saying “absolutely” and another shouts “two for two.”
The moment was captured in a video from the team’s locker room, posted on social media, where the men’s hockey group celebrated with FBI Director Kash Patel.
It was not immediately clear if the men’s team would attend the address.
Trump did invite the women’s team following his comment, but according to NBC News, the group declined the invitation.
“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,” a USA Hockey spokesperson said. “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 spokesperson added.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The moment has led to backlash on social media, for both the joke itself as well as the players who laughed.
Since then, American rapper and television personality Flavor Flav extended an offer of his own to the U.S. women’s hockey team to celebrate its gold medal win.
In a statement posted on social media Monday, Flav, real name William Jonathan Drayton Jr., invited the team to a “real celebration in Las Vegas.”
“We saw the story about the men’s invite to the White House, and the not quite invite for the women’s team,” part of the statement read. “…[Flav] always stands behind everything he says and does. If there is an interest for the team to come to Las Vegas and celebrate with Flav – we will figure it out on our end and make it a lovely experience.”
