Hilary Knight Calls Trump’s Olympic Team Joke ‘Distasteful’

Milan Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – The golden glow of Olympic success for the U.S. Women’s and men’s hockey teams has been partially obscured by a political controversy stemming from comments made by President Donald Trump following the men’s team’s victory. U.S. Women’s team captain Hilary Knight has publicly characterized the President’s remarks as a “distasteful joke,” overshadowing what should be a period of unbridled celebration for both squads.

The situation unfolded after the U.S. Men’s team secured its first Olympic gold medal since 1980 with a 2-1 overtime win against Canada on Sunday. President Trump called into the team’s locker room celebration, extending an invitation to the State of the Union address. During the call, captured on video and quickly going viral, Trump added a conditional element to the invitation, stating, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team. You do know that. I do believe I probably would be impeached [if the women’s team wasn’t invited].” The comment elicited laughter from some members of the men’s team.

Knight, a five-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated American hockey player – male or female – with 15 Olympic goals and 33 points, addressed the President’s comments during an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter on Wednesday. “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,” she said. “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 team earned their third all-time Olympic gold medal with a 2-1 overtime victory against Canada on Thursday, with Knight scoring the crucial late game-tying goal. Despite receiving an invitation to the State of the Union address, the women’s team declined, citing “timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”

The controversy has sparked a wider conversation about the recognition – and potential lack thereof – afforded to women’s sports. Knight expressed concern that the focus had shifted away from the achievements of the women’s team. “I think this is a really good learning point to focus on how we talk about women, not only in sport but in industry,” she stated. “Women aren’t less than. Our achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are.”

Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal in the men’s overtime victory, attempted to address the backlash in a Good Morning America appearance on Tuesday. “People are so negative about things,” Hughes said. “I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support [the women’s team], how proud we are of them. The same way we feel about them, they feel about us.”

However, Knight suggested that the men’s team found themselves in a difficult position. “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,” she said.

Kelly Pannek, a two-time gold medalist who recorded two assists in the Olympic tournament, echoed Knight’s sentiments. “We all know being there what it felt like to have [the men’s team’s] support throughout the tournament, to support them and how great of a moment it was for everyone that was a fan of both teams,” Pannek told reporters on Wednesday. “The phone call specifically, it’s not surprising, to be frank. I don’t know why we’d expect differently.”

U.S. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman, reflecting on the situation, acknowledged a misstep in the initial reaction. “We should’ve reacted differently,” Swayman told reporters on Wednesday. “We know that we’re so excited for the women’s team, we have so much respect for the women’s team. To share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for.”

Twenty members of the U.S. Men’s hockey team attended the State of the Union address on Tuesday, following a visit to the White House earlier that day. While President Trump indicated during his speech that the women’s team would also be invited to the Oval Office “soon,” USA Hockey has yet to confirm any plans for such a visit.

For Hilary Knight, the 2026 Winter Olympics marked the end of a remarkable career. Her performance in Milan Cortina, with three goals and three assists in seven games, capped off a legacy as one of the most dominant forces in international women’s hockey. The controversy surrounding the President’s comments, however, serves as a stark reminder that even in moments of athletic triumph, broader societal issues can intrude and complicate the narrative.