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Hilary Knight made her position clear on President Donald Trump’s joke about the United States women’s ice hockey team winning Olympic gold last week.
While on the phone with the men’s team after winning gold, Trump said he “should” invite the women’s team, which also beat Canada to win the Olympics, to Tuesday’s State of the Union presentation. Otherwise, he “would probably be impeached.”
Knight, the women’s captain and all-time leading scorer and points leader, said Wednesday on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” that Trump’s “nasty joke” had “overshadowed[ed]”the success of women.
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Gold medalist Hilary Knight of the United States celebrates after the women’s ice hockey medal ceremony following the women’s gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on February 19, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Andréas Rentz/Getty Images)
“I thought it was kind of a tasteless joke and unfortunately it overshadows a lot of the success, the success of women in the Olympics wearing for Team USA and winning incredible gold medals,” Knight said.
“We’re just focused on celebrating the women in our gym, extraordinary efforts, and continuing to celebrate three gold medals in the history of the program as well as the men’s and women’s double gold at the same time. And let’s really not take that away with a bad joke.”
Knight also gave the men’s team the benefit of the doubt for appearing to laugh at Trump’s comments.
U.S. Hockey Team gold medalists Quinn Hughes, right, his brother Jack Hughes, left, and teammates are recognized by President Donald Trump during the State of the Union address on the House floor of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“I think there’s a real level of support and respect there,” she said. “I think it was overshadowed by a quick gap. I think the guys were in a tough situation, so I think it’s a shame that that story and that narrative kind of blew up and overshadowed that connection and that real interest in each other and encouraging each other.”
Jeremy Swayman, the men’s team’s backup goalie, admitted the team “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s comments. But he, Jack and Quinn Hughes all spoke highly of the women’s team and their relationship with them.
“We know we’re very excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team. Sharing this gold medal with them is something we will be forever grateful for,” Swayman said.
Jack Hughes told reporters after the game that the first thing he thought of when the puck went in was Megan Keller, who scored the U.S. women’s team’s golden goal against Canada three days earlier.
The brothers’ mother, Ellen, a former Team USA player and current player development team member, said the players only cared about “bringing[ing] so much unity for a group and for a country.
American Jack Hughes (86), who scored the game-winning goal in overtime, celebrates after beating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Knight scored the tying goal late in the third period to force overtime, leading to Keller’s golden goal that gave the women’s team its third Olympic gold medal.
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