United States Olympic women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight has publicly criticized President Donald Trump over a White House comment she described as a “distasteful joke,” following Team USA’s historic double gold victory at the Winter Olympics.
The controversy began after Trump phoned the U.S. men’s hockey team to congratulate them on their dramatic 2-1 overtime win against Canada in the gold medal match at the Milan-Cortina Games.
During the locker room celebration, Trump reportedly said the women’s team would also need to be invited to the White House, joking that he would “probably be impeached” if they were not. The comment drew laughter from some players present.
Speaking on ESPN, Knight said the remark detracted from what should have been a defining celebration of women’s achievement. She noted that the women’s gold medal victory — secured after her crucial late equalizer in Milan — marked the program’s third Olympic title and a landmark moment for USA Hockey.
The women’s team had previously declined an invitation to attend Trump’s State of the Union address, citing academic and professional commitments.
The incident sparked widespread debate online after footage of the locker room exchange circulated. Men’s team goaltender Jeremy Swayman later acknowledged that the reaction in the room could have been handled differently, expressing admiration for the women’s squad.
Forward Jack Hughes, who scored the men’s gold medal-winning overtime goal, said the team’s focus had been solely on celebrating their achievement. He emphasized pride in representing the country during a rare double gold moment for American hockey.
Adding a lighter note to the aftermath, rapper Flavor Flav — who supported Team USA during the Games — invited the women’s team to celebrate in Las Vegas. Knight welcomed the idea but said professional league and college commitments would delay any immediate plans.
Despite the political undertones, Knight stressed that both teams’ accomplishments should remain the primary focus. She described the episode as a learning moment and called for greater respect in discussions surrounding women’s sports and achievements.
Both the men’s and women’s teams captured gold at the Milan-Cortina Games, marking a historic week for USA Hockey — one many players believe should not be overshadowed by off-ice controversy.
