US President Donald Trump is facing backlash after making a misogynistic joke about the US women’s ice hockey team in the wake of their Olympic Winter Games triumph in Milano Cortina.
Criticism grew after it emerged that three players from the women’s squad spoke out following a phone call Trump held with the men’s team on Sunday. The men’s side had also secured Olympic gold, and during the conversation Trump joked that he would have to host the women’s team at the White House too — implying he might otherwise be impeached — prompting laughter from players on the call.
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said with a chuckle during the call while members of the men’s team were seen drinking beer in a locker room with FBI director Kash Patel. If he didn’t, Trump joked he would face impeachment.
Earlier in the week, most of the men’s roster visited Trump at the White House, with several also attending his State of the Union (SOTU) address to Congress on Tuesday night. The women’s team did not attend the speech, saying they already had commitments. Still, Trump said during the address that the women’s team would come to the White House “soon,” though the team has not publicly confirmed any visit.
After the remark drew anger online, women’s team captain Hilary Knight responded, stressing that women “aren’t less than.”
Knight described the comment as “distasteful,” while also acknowledging the men’s team was placed in an awkward position, according to ESPN.
“Unfortunately, that is overshadowing a lot of the success of women at the Olympics carrying for team USA and having amazing gold medal feats,” Knight, who also leads the Seattle Torrent team, said.
“We’re just trying to focus 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.”
Knight also addressed the reaction from the men shown during the call, saying she believes there is real “support and respect” between the teams, but that it has been eclipsed by what she called a “quick lapse.”
“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.
“I think this is just a really good learning point to really focus on, you know, how we talk about women,” Knight continued. “Not only in sport, but in industry. Women aren’t less than, and our achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are.”
Teammate Hayley Scamurra, who plays forward for the Montréal Victoire, weighed in on Tuesday during The Hockey Lifers podcast. She said the call “was what it was,” but emphasized that any negativity around it has been outweighed by the support the team has received.
Kelly Pannek, a two-time medalist and forward for the Minnesota Frost, echoed that tone in comments to reporters after the victory.
“With the phone call specifically, it’s not surprising, to be frank,” Pannek told reporters. “So I don’t know why we expect differently, but I think for us, it’s also just about getting back to the focus on our team and what our team accomplished.”
Two-time gold medalist Kelly Pannek on the men’s locker room comments. pic.twitter.com/5WCIBoeL7J
— Jessi Pierce (@jessi_pierce) February 25, 2026
“The video is what it is, you’d have to ask them their feelings on it,” she added.
As some fans urged the men’s team to apologize, Team USA player and Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman said they “should’ve reacted differently,” speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
“We know that we are so excited for the women’s team,” he added (via New York Post Sports). “We have so much respect for the women’s team, and to share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for.”