NEED TO KNOW

• Team USA captain Hilary Knight called Trump’s remark about the women’s team “distasteful and unfortunate” during a Seattle Torrent press conference
• The women outscored opponents 33-2, drew 7.7 million viewers for the gold medal game, and declined the State of the Union invitation
• Men’s goalie Jeremy Swayman said the team “should have reacted differently” while both sides emphasized mutual respect

SEATTLE, WA (TDR) — Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight used a press conference with her professional team to deliver a pointed message about President Donald Trump‘s handling of the U.S. women’s hockey team — one that drew repeated cheers from the room and reframed a week of controversy around what she called a “distasteful” joke.

Speaking at the Seattle Space Needle alongside teammates Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes, Knight said she wanted to shift the narrative back to the team’s record-setting Olympic performance — and away from the fallout over Trump’s locker room call with the men’s team.

“I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate. And I think just the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point to really shine a light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats.” — Hilary Knight

What Trump Said — And What Followed

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10

The controversy traces back to Sunday, when Trump called the men’s locker room via a speakerphone held by FBI Director Kash Patel, who had been celebrating the team’s 2-1 overtime gold medal win over Canada. Trump invited the men to his State of the Union address and offered to send a military plane. Then he added a comment about the women’s team.

“I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said. “I do believe I probably would be impeached.” The remark drew laughter from the locker room, and video of the exchange quickly went viral.

The women’s team declined the State of the Union invitation the next day, with USA Hockey citing “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.” The men’s team flew to Washington on a military plane, received six minutes of recognition during the address, and watched as Trump announced goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump said during the speech that the women’s team would visit the White House “soon.”

The Numbers Behind The Team Trump Joked About

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

Knight’s frustration carries weight because of what her team accomplished. The U.S. women went undefeated at the Milan Cortina Games, outscoring opponents 33-2 across seven games and setting an Olympic shutout record of over 331 consecutive scoreless minutes. Knight’s game-tying goal in the final against Canada — her 15th career Olympic goal — made her the all-time leading scorer in U.S. women’s Olympic hockey history. Megan Keller scored the overtime winner.

The gold medal game drew an average of 5.3 million viewers, peaking at 7.7 million during overtime — the most-watched women’s hockey game in American history. It aired midday on USA Network, not the main NBC broadcast.

“These women are amazing. And whatever’s going on should never outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world stage. This was the best American women’s hockey team — the best American team — we’ve ever put together on a world stage when the lights have been the brightest ever.” — Hilary Knight

Both Teams Push Back On The Divide

Knight was careful to defend the men’s team even while criticizing Trump. She called the locker room laughter a “quick lapse” and said the teams had genuine mutual respect forged at the Olympic Village.

“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 is overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another.” — Hilary Knight

Men’s goaltender Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins echoed that sentiment, telling reporters the team “should have reacted differently” and that sharing the gold with the women’s team was “something we will forever be grateful for.” Jack Hughes, who scored the men’s game-winning goal, said the moment didn’t reflect the team’s views. “It is what it is,” Hughes said. “We have so much respect for the women’s team.”

Not everyone characterized the remark as problematic. Jack Hughes’ mother Ellen, a player development consultant for USA women’s hockey, said she was not bothered by Trump’s comments. Kelly Pannek, a forward on the women’s team, told CBS News the absence from the State of the Union was purely logistical, not a political statement.

Meanwhile, rapper Flavor Flav — who has served as an official sponsor and hype man for multiple U.S. Olympic teams — stepped in with a Las Vegas celebration offer. The team accepted. MGM stepped up as a sponsor, and Flav told Newsweek he plans to host a parade this summer for all women medalists.

Some Trump allies have noted the awkward precedent of the episode: a president who built political currency around “winning” now has one of his few genuine bipartisan moments — both teams winning gold simultaneously for the first time in history — overshadowed by a remark his own supporters wish he hadn’t made. Conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt dismissed the criticism as overblown, while Fox News’ Will Cain called the locker room video a moment “every proud American is smiling through.”

When an Olympic team sets records, draws historic viewership, and goes undefeated — and the dominant narrative is still about a president’s offhand joke — does that prove the team’s point about how women’s achievements get overshadowed, or is the backlash itself what’s overshadowing the gold?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from CNN, NBC News, NBC Chicago, ESPN, CBS News, The Hill, NPR, PBS NewsHour, The Boston Globe, Daily Faceoff, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, and official statements from USA Hockey.

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10