US Hockey Captain Hilary Knight Brands Trump's White House Joke 'Distasteful'
President Donald Trump's offhand remark about inviting the Olympic women's hockey team to the White House has been labelled 'distasteful and unfortunate' by US captain Hilary Knight. The gold medalist made the comments on Wednesday at the Seattle Space Needle, where she appeared alongside fellow Olympians Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes ahead of their return to play for the Seattle Torrent in the Professional Women's Hockey League.
Trump's Locker Room Comments Spark Controversy
The controversy stems from Trump's speakerphone call to the men's team locker room after their dramatic overtime victory over Canada on Sunday. After extending a White House invitation to the men's team, the President added, 'We're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that.' He later joked that if he didn't extend the invitation, he would probably be impeached.
Knight, a two-time gold medalist whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition represent the most by any US hockey player at the Games, expressed disappointment that the focus had shifted from Team USA's historic achievements. 'I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate,' Knight stated. 'And, I think just the way women are represented, it's a great teaching point and really shines light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats.'
Men's Team Regrets Their Reaction
While many men's players were seen laughing at Trump's comment during the locker room celebration, backup goalie Jeremy Swayman admitted on Wednesday that the response was inappropriate. The Boston Bruins star told reporters in Boston, 'We should've reacted differently. We know that we are so excited for the women's team. 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.'
Swayman, who surrendered three goals in his only Olympic appearance against Denmark, added that the teams would now share their gold medal success together permanently.
Women's Players Express Disappointment
Team USA women's star Laila Edwards appeared to take issue with the men's team's reaction to Trump's joke. After the video went viral on social media, Edwards liked an Instagram post featuring a quote attributed to comedian Tina Fey: 'You can tell how smart people are by what they laugh at.' The post was captioned: 'Anyway, women >>>'
Meanwhile, New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes dismissed the controversy on Monday, insisting the men's and women's players remain 'tight.' The vast majority of the men's team flew to Washington on Tuesday, visiting Trump at the White House before attending the State of the Union address.
Logistical Hurdles Prevent Women's White House Visit
While the men's team enjoyed their White House visit, logistical issues prevented the women's team from joining them. USA Hockey, which described itself as 'honored' by the invitation, cited travel disruptions as the primary obstacle. The women's team was originally scheduled to fly commercially into New York on Monday but was forced to reroute through Atlanta due to a snowstorm in the Northeast.
Several promotional appearances had to be canceled, including a planned bell-ringing ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange. The earliest possible White House visit for the women's team would be in late spring after the conclusion of the PWHL season.
Focus Should Remain on Historic Achievement
Knight expressed frustration that the viral video had overshadowed the historic nature of Team USA's Olympic success. 'The men's and the women's team did it together,' she emphasized. 'And, that's super special. It's never been done in our program's history. It's something we're extremely proud about. But these women are amazing. And whatever's going on should never outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world stage.'
Forward Kelly Pannek echoed these sentiments, telling reporters that while 'the video is what it is,' there remains a 'special feeling' between the teams after they won the first Olympic gold for the US in 46 years. Pannek believes mutual respect and support exist on both sides.
Record-Breaking Performance Deserves Recognition
The US women's hockey team delivered a dominant performance in Milan Cortina, outscoring opponents 33-2 on their way to gold. The United States won 12 gold medals overall, with women contributing to eight of those victories.
Knight concluded with a powerful statement about her team's legacy: 'This was the best American women's hockey team, the best American team we've ever put together on the world stage when the lights have been the brightest ever. And so, I think everybody felt that going through the tournament. And, I want to celebrate. I want people to be remembered for that. I want the legacy of this team to be remembered.'
