Hilary Knight Slams Trump’s “Distasteful” Joke Following Olympic Double Gold

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics concluded with a rare “double gold” for Team USA hockey, but the celebration has been clouded by a post-game locker room call. While congratulating the men’s team on February 22, President Trump joked that he would “have to” invite the gold medal-winning women’s team to the White House to avoid being “impeached”—a remark that prompted laughter from several male players.

“Our Words Matter”: Knight Responds

Speaking to ABC News, Knight—the most decorated player in U.S. women’s hockey history—described the comment as a missed opportunity for genuine celebration.

“I thought the call in itself was distasteful and an awesome learning moment to refocus the narrative,” Knight said. “We need to understand our words matter, and how we speak about women matters.”

Knight emphasized that the focus should remain on the “extraordinary efforts” of the women’s team, who defeated Canada in a thrilling overtime final just days before the men achieved the same feat.

The Viral Backlash and the Men’s Defense

The clip of the call, featuring players laughing alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, led to immediate online criticism. However, Knight was careful not to let the incident create a rift between the two programs.

• A “Quick Lapse”: Knight noted that the men’s and women’s teams share a “genuine level of respect” that shouldn’t be defined by a “quick lapse” in a high-pressure, celebratory moment.
• The Men’s Reaction: Goaltender Jeremy Swayman later expressed remorse, stating, “We should’ve reacted differently… we have so much respect for the women’s team.”
• The SOTU Invite: While the men’s team attended the State of the Union address on February 24, the women’s team declined, citing “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments” as many players returned to the PWHL and college seasons.

A Defining Career Finale

For Knight, 36, the 2026 Games marked the end of a legendary career. She leaves the ice holding the U.S. Olympic records for both goals (15) and points (33), cementing her legacy as a titan of the sport.