House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) confirmed Tuesday that last-minute room will be made at that evening’s “well-attended” State of the Union for the U.S. men’s hockey team after it clinched an Olympic gold medal against Canada over the weekend.
“The State of the Union is a very well-attended event, and the gallery is already full, and we have waiting lists of people that want to be there,” Johnson said. “So, we’re going to work out logistics, and somehow, some way, we’ll squeeze in the hockey players tonight, and it’ll be a great moment for America, and it really is a symbol to all of us that we all play for America’s team.”
President Donald Trump extended the team an invitation during a phone call Sunday with FBI Director Kash Patel, who was celebrating with the team following its 2-1 overtime win, to what will be his first State of the Union address of his second term.
Johnson told reporters Tuesday that in a phone call with Trump Sunday night, the president told him, “’We got to make some changes. We need some more guests.”
The annual speech is held during a joint session of Congress inside the House chamber, where every available seat on the floor and in the galleries above is filled by hundreds of lawmakers and their guests, Cabinet officials, Supreme Court justices, and reporters.
US WOMEN’S HOCKEY TEAM DECLINES INVITATION TO STATE OF THE UNION
The White House also extended an invitation to the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team, but it declined, citing academic and professional scheduling conflicts. The women’s team also won gold in a 2-1 overtime against Canada.
“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 in a statement. “They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”