US Women's Hockey Team Condemns Trump's 'Distasteful' White House Invitation Remark
Members of the United States women's Olympic hockey team have voiced their disappointment and criticised President Donald Trump for what they described as a "distasteful" joke about being compelled to invite them to Washington, D.C. The athletes stressed that the ensuing controversy should not detract from their historic gold medal victory at the Milan Olympic games.
Controversial Phone Call Sparks Outrage
The incident originated on Sunday when President Trump telephoned the men's hockey team to congratulate them on securing their first Olympic gold medal since 1980. During the celebratory call, which was captured on video and featured the team drinking beer in a locker room alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, Trump extended invitations to both the State of the Union address and the White House.
"I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that," Trump remarked with a chuckle, adding that failing to do so might result in his impeachment. His comments elicited laughter from the men's team, but have since drawn sharp criticism from the women's squad and beyond.
Women's Team Expresses Disappointment and Calls for Respect
Hilary Knight, the captain of the women's team and a player for the Seattle Torrent, addressed the issue in an interview with ESPN on Wednesday. She labelled Trump's joke as "distasteful" while acknowledging the difficult position the men's team found themselves in during the call.
"I think this is just a really good learning point to really focus on, you know, how we talk about women," Knight stated. "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."
Knight further highlighted the strong camaraderie that has developed between the two teams throughout the Olympic competition and expressed her desire to prevent a "quick lapse" from overshadowing their dual victories.
Additional Team Members Weigh In on the Incident
Hayley Scamurra, a forward for the Montréal Victoire and member of the women's team, commented on a podcast on Tuesday, describing the call as "was what it was." However, she noted that the negative attention has been largely drowned out by an "outpouring of love and support" from fans and supporters.
Kelly Pannek, a two-time gold medalist with Team USA, echoed similar sentiments in remarks to reporters on Wednesday. She acknowledged the men's team's support during the games but indicated that Trump's joke was not surprising.
"With the phone call specifically, it's not surprising, to be frank," Pannek said. "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."
Men's Team Visits White House as Women Decline Invitation
On Tuesday, the majority of the men's team, adorned in Team USA sweaters, visited the White House to meet with President Trump. Several players also attended the president's address to Congress that evening. In contrast, the women's team declined the invitation to the State of the Union, citing prior commitments.
During his congressional address, Trump assured that the women's team would visit the White House "soon," though specific details were not provided.
Regret from the Men's Team and Alternative Celebrations
Jeremy Swayman, a Team USA player and goaltender for the Boston Bruins, expressed regret over the team's reaction during the phone call with the president. "We should've reacted differently," Swayman told reporters on Wednesday. "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."
In lieu of a White House visit, the women's team may celebrate their Olympic triumph elsewhere. On Tuesday, rapper Flavor Flav extended an invitation to the team for a "real celebration" in Las Vegas, offering an alternative venue to honour their achievements.
The controversy underscores ongoing discussions about gender equality and respect in sports, with the women's hockey team firmly asserting that their accomplishments deserve recognition without qualification or jest.
