Trump’s Call Sparks Controversy After US Hockey Teams’ Olympic Gold Wins

As players from the U.S. Olympic men’s and women’s hockey teams celebrated their gold medal victories, backlash emerged over a phone call with President Donald Trump. The controversy centers on a comment made during a call to the men’s team after their 2-1 overtime victory over Canada, where he joked about inviting the women’s team to the State of the Union address.

The Call and Its Aftermath

During the call, President Trump stated, “I must inform you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team. If they weren’t invited, I do believe I probably would be impeached, OK?” The men’s team’s laughter in response to the comment quickly drew criticism.

The U.S. Men’s team subsequently attended President Trump’s State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol. But, the women’s team declined the invitation. USA Hockey stated, “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. Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.”

Players’ Reactions

Hilary Knight

Captain of the women’s team and the most decorated U.S. Olympic women’s hockey player, Hilary Knight, described the joke as “distasteful” and expressed concern that it was overshadowing the team’s accomplishments. She emphasized the importance of celebrating the success of the women’s team and not diminishing it with such remarks. She also commented on the men’s team’s reaction, suggesting a “genuine level of support” was overshadowed by a “quick lapse.”

Jeremy Swayman

Boston Bruins goalie and Team USA member, Jeremy Swayman, acknowledged that the men’s team “should have reacted differently.” He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share the gold medal victory with the women’s team and highlighted the incredible support from the U.S.

Kelly Pannek

Kelly Pannek, a member of Team USA who plays for the PWHL’s Minnesota Frost, expressed gratitude for the support from the men’s team in Milan and the respect they showed the women’s team. She acknowledged the call was not surprising, stating, “I suppose for us it’s all just about getting back to the focus on our team and what our team accomplished.”

Jack Hughes

Jack Hughes, the hero of the men’s gold medal game, stated he wasn’t surprised by the criticism. He explained the team was in a celebratory moment when the call came through, and emphasized the mutual respect between the men’s and women’s teams, adding, “We’re all just proud Americans, and we’re happy we both swept the Olympics.”

Hayley Scamurra

Hayley Scamurra, a member of the U.S. Women’s team, expressed a desire to focus on the team’s success in Milan. She noted the outpouring of love and support the team received outweighed any other feelings.

Political Context

The incident occurred against a backdrop of political tension, with President Trump having previously expressed interest in adding Canada as the “51st state.” The White House also responded to the U.S. Victory over Canada with a social media post featuring an American bald eagle trampling a Canadian goose, referencing a previous statement by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The U.S. Men’s hockey team won gold at the Winter Olympics with a 2-1 win over Canada.