A brutal fact-check wasn’t all Keith Olbermann earned after the commentator’s Trump Derangement Syndrome found him judging Olympic gold medalists on their response to a presidential invite.
“Nobody invited you, and nobody was talking to you.”
The XXV Winter Olympic Games may have avoided many of the controversies that plagued the summer contests of Paris 2024, but they weren’t devoid of politics — especially for certain members of Team USA less keen on presenting as patriots. Now, as the flip side found the gold-medal winning U.S. Men’s Hockey Team ready to attend the State of the Union, Olbermann lashed out at the “Self-absorbed scumbag misogynists.”
Taking to X on Monday, the former MSNBC and ESPN talking head first reacted to a post from John Basham, who criticized the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team for declining President Donald Trump’s SOTU invite, “The women’s team is made up of patriots. The men’s team? Self-absorbed scumbag misogynists.”
He followed that up with a standalone post asserting, “It’s official: US Gold Winning Olympic Hockey team declined invitation to be political props for Trump at SOTU tomorrow … The women, that is … The men are still too stupid, self-absorbed and misogynistic to realize that going, will stick to them permanently.”
The women’s team is made up of patriots. The men’s team? Self-absorbed scumbag misogynists
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 23, 2026
It’s official: US Gold Winning Olympic Hockey team declined invitation to be political props for Trump at the SOTU tomorrow
The women, that is
The men are still too stupid, self-absorbed and misogynistic to realize that going, will stick to them permanently
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 23, 2026
As had been reported, both teams defeated their Canadian counterparts in the respective gold medal games, delivering an opportunity for considerable bragging rights from the White House while also winning the hearts of fans at home. Just like champions of the World Series, NBA Finals, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, and other leagues and competitions earn invites to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the timing allowed Trump the opportunity to honor American athletes at his SOTU.
Where it concerned the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team’s inability to attend, the reality was not so favorable to Olbermann’s spin as NBC News White House correspondent Monica Alba splashed cold water on his claim, citing a spokesperson for USA Hockey who said, “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… They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
USA Hockey spokesperson: “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…They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
— Monica Alba (@albamonica) February 23, 2026
Responding to those hating on celebrating America’s victories, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld assessed, “Their response reveals that they can’t celebrate a person unless they are somewhat or definitely on their political side, but we can. We can. We don’t care, and why would you want to be on that divide? ‘I don’t like you. I won’t celebrate your win because you’re not as woke as me.’ I think we should all feel good about [Alyssa Liu], and if you can’t [then] there’s something wrong. The shut-in bloggers at Huffington Post would kill to win something in their lives. And also when they say, ‘Shame on America,’ they don’t understand that most people in the world want to come here.”
Reactions to Olbermann came in kind while also making the case that athletes like Jack Hughes would help restore patriotism in the United States.
This will be an image that defines a decade. This will mark the rebirth of patriotism and American exceptionalism. pic.twitter.com/l8GFDDO4yG
— Captain Dax (@DaxMorgan) February 23, 2026
— AJ 🇺🇸 (@AjApplegoose) February 23, 2026
— Chad LaCivita Sr. (@cal8812) February 23, 2026
and there it is…
right on cue.
attacking the mens hockey team for not hating America.
— Red Chem (@red_chem_lite) February 24, 2026
$10 says you wouldn’t say that to any of their faces.
— Tedex (@chinmarinero) February 23, 2026
Oh man I’d hate to have a visit to the White House in celebration of my gold medal go on my permanent record. Bummer
— The Dank Knight 🦇 (@capeandcowell) February 23, 2026
Good luck trying to make these guys into villains!
— Sue (@SusanK1717) February 23, 2026
Nobody invited you and nobody was talking to you.
— TheAmericanArtist (@RealAmericanArt) February 23, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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