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Former United States women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe criticized the United States men’s hockey team for their reaction to President Donald Trump’s locker room phone call after their gold medal victory over Canada in Milan Cortina, calling the players and president a “clown” for what she called a “trash” remark about the gold medal-winning women’s hockey team.
Rapinoe, a vocal critic of Trump, spoke at length about the postgame interaction with the president during the latest episode of her podcast with WNBA great Sue Bird, “One more touch.”
Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe watch the first quarter between the United States and France in the men’s basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games at Accor Arena on August 10, 2024. (Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)
The retired football star took issue with Trump’s call, particularly his joke that he “should” also invite the women’s team to the State of the Union address, which took place Tuesday, and the men’s reaction to that remark.
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“The United States men’s hockey team, in their moment of glory, their childhood dreams come true, the accomplishment of a lifetime, sensational – wasted it because they allowed themselves to be totally taken over by a clown. And now you’re a clown. You look like a clown,” she began.
Rapinoe did not release a clip of the remark, adding: “We’re not going to highlight that garbage.”
She then admitted that she understood the environment and how the team could “wrap themselves into this moment,” but expressed disappointment that the men’s team did not respect their counterparts – or themselves.
“…And then you just gave this whole moment to this person, who you know is only going to use it for him, is going to totally co-opt it.”
Gold medalists Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes of Team USA celebrate after the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Grégory Shamus/Getty Images)
She continued, “Why don’t you respect yourself more than letting this moment be taken by someone who, for no reason, just takes a huge swing and goes after women who have done the exact same thing as you.”
Rapinoe also took issue with FBI Director Kash Patel’s presence in the locker room, recalling her playing days and how she would have handled those situations differently.
“Kash Patel is in the locker room, he’s partying, he’s drinking beers – I’m not like decorum on everything, that’s not what I need from my FBI director, like what do we do? It’s just, whatever, other than the problem.”
She later added: “I would never…those people would never be allowed in our locker room.”
Bird added that her biggest problem with the interaction was seeing that she knew the relationship between the men’s and women’s teams, which she described as “genuine.”
“This person, who happens to be the president of the United States, makes a joke that seems dismissive, and I don’t understand the part where the men’s hockey team is actually close to the women’s hockey team,” she said.
“If my friends were dismissed like that, why would I ever laugh? Period. Take away the rest. That’s what I don’t understand.”
Team USA gold medalist Hilary Knight celebrates after the women’s ice hockey medal ceremony following the women’s gold medal game between the United States and Canada on day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 19, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Andréas Rentz/Getty Images)
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American women’s hockey star Hillary Knight addressed the controversy on ESPN, calling the joke “in bad taste” but defended the male players.
“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.”
The women’s hockey team declined the invitation to the State of the Union address, but USA Hockey said in a subsequent statement that the team would travel to the White House “soon” to celebrate its gold medal “depending on its schedule once the season ends.”
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