U.S. Hockey Icon Hilary Knight Critiques Trump’s ‘Tasteless’ Remarks
Hockey icon Hilary Knight addressed President Donald Trump’s remarks regarding the invitation of Team USA’s gold medal-winning hockey team to the White House, labeling the comments as “tasteless and unfortunate.”
“We just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate,” Knight, 36, stated during a press conference on February 25. “The representation of women in sports is crucial; it’s a teaching moment to highlight how women should be celebrated for their remarkable achievements. It’s not my job to explain someone else’s behavior.”
Trump, 79, made his comments during a call with the men’s hockey team after they secured gold against Canada at the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy, on February 22. “We have medals for you guys. I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team,” he quipped, eliciting laughter from the men. “If I didn’t invite them, I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
At the press conference, Knight emphasized the importance of shifting the narrative to recognize both teams’ achievements. “Granted, the men and women’s teams did it together,” she noted. “That’s super special. It’s unprecedented in our program’s history, and we take immense pride in that.”
She took a moment to honor the “amazing” women of Team USA who stood alongside her during the press event. “Whatever’s happening should never overshadow or diminish their hard work and our success on the world stage,” Knight asserted. “This was the best American women’s hockey team we’ve ever assembled when it mattered most. Everyone felt that intensity.”
Knight concluded her remarks by expressing her desire for their legacy to be remembered. “I want to celebrate that success. I want people to remember this team’s legacy. That’s what I’m focusing on—championing what we’ve accomplished over the past two-and-a-half weeks.”
On February 23, USA Hockey confirmed that the women’s team declined an invitation to attend Trump’s State of the Union address in Washington D.C. “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,” USA Hockey stated.
Jack Hughes, a standout from Team USA men’s hockey, attempted to downplay the political ramifications of the women’s team declining the meeting with Trump. “They’ve got busy schedules too,” Hughes, 24, remarked. “Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today.”
Hughes expressed frustration over negativity surrounding their achievements, stating that “people are so negative out there” and seem eager to create controversy from trivial matters.
Five members of the men’s hockey squad—Kyle Connor, Jake Oettinger, Brock Nelson, Jackson LaCombe, and Jake Guentzel—chose not to visit Trump at the White House before the State of the Union speech, opting instead to return to their NHL teams.
Among those who did attend, Quinn Hughes shared his excitement about visiting the White House and attending the speech. His teammate Vincent Trocheck expressed disappointment that the visit had become politicized. “We’re all very proud to be Americans,” Trocheck, 32, said. “We went over there with a job: to win gold for our country and everyone back home, and we accomplished that.”
During his State of the Union address, Trump celebrated both hockey teams’ Olympic victories while asserting that the women’s team “will soon be coming to the White House.”
