Overview
- The White House welcomed more than 120 Olympians and Paralympians on Thursday, Aug. 6, to honor Team USA’s combined 57 medals from the Milano Cortina Games.
- Nearly half of the roughly 300-athlete delegation attended the reception while several athletes publicly declined or signaled reluctance to participate.
- Only two members of the U.S. women’s gold-medal hockey team, Abbey Murphy and Joy Dunne, were listed among attendees, reflecting earlier scheduling conflicts and protest-tinged absences.
- In remarks to the group the president singled out speedskater Jordan Stolz, criticized a court decision by saying 'a bad judge declared sports unconstitutional,' and urged Congress to pass legislation aimed at restricting transgender participation in college and women’s sports.
- Heavy rain moved the event from the Rose Garden patio into the East Room where athletes presented Trump a Team USA jacket and sneakers, and the mixed turnout highlighted how sports policy disputes are shaping who attends presidential honors and could affect upcoming legislation and sports governance.