Hilary Knight says Trump’s ‘distasteful’ joke resulted in ‘quick lapse’ by US men’s hockey team

BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT: During a February 25 appearance on SportsCenter, Hilary Knight addressed President Donald Trump’s now-viral comment about the women’s hockey team - a remark she called “sort of a distasteful joke.”

While she made it clear there’s no bad blood between the men’s and women’s teams, she said the moment has unfairly shifted attention away from Olympic success.

Hilary Knight says Donald Trump’s joke overshadowed women’s Olympic success

The controversy began during a congratulatory phone call between Trump and the US men’s hockey team after they defeated Canada to win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics - the team’s first gold since 1980.

As the players took the call from their locker room, Trump laughed and said, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team. You do know that. I do believe I’d probably would be impeached [if the women’s team wasn’t invited].”

The players were heard laughing along. For Knight, however, the comment didn’t sit right.

“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 on ESPN.

Knight emphasized that the focus should remain on the history the women’s team made.

“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,” she added. “And really not detract from that with a distasteful joke.”

Hilary Knight defends bond between US men’s and women’s hockey teams

Despite the backlash online, Knight insisted that the relationship between the two teams remains strong.

“I think there's a genuine level of support there and respect,” she said. “I think that's being overshadowed by a quick lapse.”

She also acknowledged the position the men’s team found themselves in during the live phone call.

“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,” Knight added.

The men’s team had been invited to the White House and the annual State of the Union address following their historic win. The women’s team also received an invitation but ultimately declined.

“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning US Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” a spokesperson for USA Hockey told NBC News.

“Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.”

Several members of the men’s team also declined the invite.

Jeremy Swayman and Jack Hughes respond to backlash

In the days after the call, Jeremy Swayman, who was in Italy with Team USA at the time, admitted that the situation could have been handled differently.

He acknowledged that he and his teammates should have “reacted differently.”

“We know that we are so excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team,” Swayman told reporters. “To share that gold medal with them is something we’re forever grateful for.”

“Now that we're home, we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support that we have from the USA in sharing this incredible gold medal,” he added.

Jack Hughes, whose mother Ellen Hughes coaches the women’s team, echoed that sentiment.

“Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today. People are so negative out there,” Hughes said. “I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them and how proud we are of them. And we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us.”