Team USA goalie says players regret reaction to Trump’s women’s team joke: 'We have so much respect'

WASHINGTON, DC: A celebratory phone call from President Donald Trump to the United States men’s Olympic hockey team has sparked controversy after laughter erupted at the mention of the women’s team.

Congratulating the men on their gold-medal victory, Trump joked that he would “have” to invite the women’s team, who also defeated Canada to claim Olympic gold, to the State of the Union on February 24, or he would “probably be impeached.” The remark drew chuckles inside the locker room, a reaction that Team USA backup goalie Jeremy Swayman later appeared to regret.

Jeremy Swayman addresses Trump women’s team remark

Jeremy Swayman said the team regretted laughing when Donald Trump mentioned the women’s hockey team. After reporters asked about the phone call, Swayman said, “We should have reacted differently. We know that we are so excited for the women’s team."

He emphasized, "We have so much respect for the women’s team. To share that gold medal with them is something we’re forever grateful for.” 

This followed Trump praising the women’s hockey team during his phone call with the men’s team.

“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump told the players. He then joked, “I do believe I probably would be impeached,” if he failed to invite the women’s team along with the men.

Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes highlight US team unity

Members of the men’s team, including Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes, emphasized that both teams celebrated and supported each other throughout the Olympics.

Jack told reporters after the game that when the puck went in, he immediately thought of Megan Keller, who scored the golden goal for the US women’s team against Canada three days earlier.

Quinn, who netted an overtime winner against Sweden last week, called it “amazing to spend some time” with the women’s team in the Olympic Village.

Their mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, a former Team USA player and current player development staff member, did not appear bothered by Trump’s joke. Speaking to Today, she said, “These players, both the men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and to a country. People that cheered on that don’t watch hockey, people that have politics on one side or on the other side, and that’s all both the men’s team and the women’s team care about."

She added, “If you could see what we see from the inside, and the men and women sharing, you know, dorm rooms and halls and flex floors and the camaraderie and the synergy and the way the women cheered on the men and the way the men cheered on the women, that’s what it’s all about. And the other things they cannot control. They care about humanity. They care about unity, and they care about the country."

US women’s hockey team skips Trump’s SOTU

The United States women’s ice hockey team chose not to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24, after winning gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

USA Hockey thanked the president for the invitation, stating, "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." The organization said the players could not attend because they already had academic and professional commitments scheduled after the Games.

USA Hockey added, "They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment."