U.S. Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Captain Hilary Knight has publicly addressed what she characterized as a ‘distasteful joke’ from former President Donald Trump, stating it regrettably diverted attention from the monumental achievements of American female athletes at the Milan-Cortina Games. The controversy emerged during a congratulatory call Trump made to the gold medal-winning men’s team, where he quipped that inviting the women’s team to his State of the Union address was necessary to avoid being ‘impeached.’
While several men’s players were reported to have laughed at the remark, Knight emphasized on ESPN’s ‘Sportscenter’ that a strong bond of mutual support exists between the national teams. She expressed disappointment that a ‘quick lapse’ and an unfortunate narrative were obscuring the genuine respect and camaraderie shared between the athletes.
The women’s team subsequently declined an invitation to attend the address, with USA Hockey citing prior commitments. In contrast, members of the men’s team were honored at the White House, where goaltender Connor Hellebuyck received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Knight, a five-time Olympic medalist who secured her second gold in what she has announced was her final Games, used the platform to call for a broader cultural shift. She advocated for the incident to become a ‘really good learning point’ in how society discusses and values the accomplishments of women, not just in sports but across all industries, asserting that their achievements should stand on their own merit without being overshadowed.