View gallery
Image Credit: Getty Images
A clip of Donald Trump congratulating the United States’ men’s hockey team through a telephone conversation on their Olympic triumph gained traction after the president shared an opinion regarding the women’s team. The call, arranged by FBI Director Kash Patel inside the men’s changing room after the team’s achievement on February 22, included an offer to the February 24 State of the Union presentation. So, what precisely did Trump express about the women’s team that sparked outrage across the web?
Discover what the president stated regarding the women’s hockey team here.
Did Trunp Invite Both the Men’s & Women’s Hockey Teams to Washington, D.C.?
Indeed, Trump broadened an invite to both men’s and women’s teams, though the men’s invite was the singular one filmed. He even proposed to transport them to Washington, D.C., in spite of snowstorms that affected the northeast.
What Did Trump Say About the Women’s Hockey Team?
Per the footage that became widespread online, Trump mentioned concerning the women’s team, “I have to mention we will have to include the women as well; you understand that. Trust me, I might be impeached, OK?”
The men’s hockey team chuckled in reaction to the president’s jest, as indicated in the snippet.
You can hear the genuine pride in Donald Trumps voice when he called the Team USA Hockey Team pic.twitter.com/ch6GbXShwh
— Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) February 23, 2026
Why Did the Women’s Hockey Team Decline Trump’s Invitation?
The women’s hockey team mentioned calendar conflicts with the president’s offer. A representative for USA Hockey stated that they were “honored to be recognized and are thankful for the acknowledgement.”
“We are sincerely appreciative of the invite given to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the acknowledgment of their remarkable accomplishment,” the spokesperson articulated. “Because of the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional obligations following the Games, the athletes cannot participate.”
Team USA Captain Hilary Knight addressed Trump’s joke during an appearance on “SportsCenter,” labeling it a “distasteful” remark.
“I considered it a somewhat unpleasant joke, and regrettably, that is obscuring much of the achievement, the accomplishment of simply women at the Olympics competing for Team USA and possessing stunning gold medal wins,” she voiced. “Presently, I am obligated, or anybody is obligated to stand before you and detail another person’s actions. It’s not under my jurisdiction.”
What Did the Men’s Hockey Team Say About the Women’s Team?
The men’s team did not deliberate the blowback collectively, but NHL star Jack Hughes commented regarding the controversy in a statement to the Daily Mail.
“They’ve got occupied timetables, too,” Hughes declared concerning the women’s team’s refusal of the president’s offer. “Everyone is giving us criticism for all the social media material today. Individuals are very adverse out there, and they are just attempting to discover an explanation to put individuals down and create something from practically nothing.”
Adding that both USA teams’ bond is “so close,” Hughes went on, “I believe everyone in that changing room knows how significantly we support them, how proud we are of them and we understand the same manner we feel about them, they feel about us.”
Jack similarly mentioned the men’s team was “thrilled” to go to Trump’s State of the Union. “Everything is so political. We’re athletes. We’re very proud to represent the US, and when you receive the opportunity to visit White House and meet the president, we’re proud to be Americans, and that is so patriotic.”
“Regardless of what your thoughts are, we are very thrilled to go to the White House tomorrow and be a piece of that,” Hughes ended.