What to Know
U.S. women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight has publicly pushed back against a comment President Donald Trump made about her team during the Milan Olympics, saying the remark overshadowed the historic accomplishments of American women at the Games.
The incident set off a national conversation about respect for women’s athletics and put members of both the men’s and women’s hockey programs in an uncomfortable public spotlight.
The Call That Went Viral
The moment originated during the U.S. men’s hockey team’s locker room celebration in Milan. President Trump called the team and invited the players to attend the State of the Union address in Washington.
During the call, he added, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” and, laughing, said that if he did not also invite the women’s team, “I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
Video of the call — and of several men’s players appearing to laugh at the comment — quickly went viral and drew widespread criticism online.
Knight Responds
Appearing on SportsCenter on Wednesday, Knight did not hold back. “I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke, and unfortunately that is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats,” Knight said.
She continued: “We’re just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts, and continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men’s and women’s at the same time. And really not detract from that with a distasteful joke.”
The U.S. women’s hockey team won its third Olympic gold medal since women’s hockey was added in 1998.
Knight later added that she was looking forward to “celebrating all great things that have come out of the Olympics and feeling the love and support and getting back in our respective communities and sharing this journey with them. And that’s what this is all about.”
Men’s Players Address The Fallout
The viral video put members of the men’s team in the hot seat, with several players responding publicly in the days after the call.
Jack Hughes, who scored the men’s gold medal game winner, and his brother Quinn addressed the controversy Tuesday on Good Morning America. Hughes emphasized the closeness between the two teams during the Milan Olympics.
“Our relationship with them, over the course of being in the Olympic Village, I think we are so tight with their group,” Hughes said. “After we won the gold medal, we were in the cafeteria at 3:30 a.m. in the morning with them. We go from there, pack our bags and we’re on the bus.”
“People are so negative about things,” he added. “I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them. The same way we feel about them, they feel about us.”
Hughes addressed the situation again Wednesday night after his first game back with the New Jersey Devils, acknowledging the awkwardness while reaffirming respect for the women’s program.
“You’re in the moment and the president calls. We’re blaring the music. It is what it is,” Hughes said. “We have so much respect for the women’s team and they have so much respect for us. We are all just proud Americans.”
Men’s Goaltender Says Team ‘Should Have Reacted Differently’
The most direct acknowledgment from the men’s side came from goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Speaking to reporters in Boston after returning to practice with the Bruins, Swayman said the men “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s remarks.
“To share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for,” Swayman said. “And now that we’re home we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support we have from the USA and share this incredible gold medal.”
Knight Defends The Bond Between Teams
Even while addressing the controversy, Knight spoke about the genuine relationship between the men’s and women’s programs. She made clear she did not believe the viral moment represented the men’s team’s true feelings.
“I think there’s a genuine level of support there and respect,” she said. “I think that’s being overshadowed by a quick lapse. I think the guys were in a tough spot, so I think it’s a shame this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on.”
Hughes echoed that sentiment, saying the moment did not reflect the views of the men’s team.
—
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists. | Hanna Wickes; The Kansas City Star; (TNS) | ©2026 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
