US hockey team captain Hilary Knight called US President Donald Trump's remarks a “disgusting joke” and noted that his words make the achievements of female athletes at the Winter Olympics less visible. She was quoted by ESPN.
The US men's and women's ice hockey teams have become Olympic champions in 2026. The teams won their third gold medals at the Olympics, with the women's team winning for the first time since 2018, while the men's team was last champion 46 years ago.
US President Donald Trump has invited the men's team to his State of the Union address, saying he “should have invited the women's team” and adding that he would likely “be impeached if he didn't.”
The women's team declined the president's invitation, citing tight schedules and club commitments. Instead, 20 of the 25 men's hockey players visited the Oval Office after returning from Milan and met with Trump.