US hockey star Hilary Knight responds to Trump’s ‘distasteful joke’ about women’s team | USA ice hockey team
Hilary Knight, the captain of the U.S. women’s ice hockey team, responded to comments made by Donald Trump after the Americans won gold at the Winter Olympics, calling the president’s quip a “nasty joke.”
After the U.S. men’s ice hockey team won gold on Sunday, Trump called the celebration into the locker room and invited the players to be his guests at Tuesday’s State of the Union address.
“I have to tell you, we’re going to have to bring in the women’s team,” he said. “You know that. I think I would probably be impeached. [if the women’s team wasn’t invited].” Several male players were filmed laughing at Trump’s comments in a video that later went viral.
Knight, a five-time Olympic medalist and one of the most decorated players in women’s ice hockey history, responded to Trump’s remarks Wednesday during an appearance on SportsCenter.
“I thought it was kind of a tasteless joke and unfortunately it overshadows a lot of the success, the success of the only women in the Olympics wearing for Team USA and winning incredible gold medals.
“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 nasty joke.”
Trump’s comments and the reaction from the men’s players sparked a backlash in the days after the gold medal. Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winner in the men’s overtime victory over Canada, tried to quell some of the backlash during an appearance on Good Morning America on Tuesday.
“People are so negative about things,” he said. “I think everyone in this locker room knows how much we support [the women’s team]how proud we are of them. What we feel about them, they feel about us.
Knight told SportsCenter that the support and respect between the men’s and women’s teams has been overshadowed by the controversy.
“I think the guys were in a tough situation, so I think it’s a shame that this story and this narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowed that connection and that real interest in each other and encouraging each other,” she said.
Kelly Pannek, a two-time gold medalist who had two assists for the United States at these Olympics, echoed Knight on Wednesday.
“We all know that being there, what it feels like to have [the men’s team’s] “The phone call in particular, it’s not surprising, to be frank. I don’t know why we would expect any differently.
Twenty members of the men’s team, who just won their first Olympic gold medal since 1980, visited the White House on Tuesday and attended the State of the Union ceremony later that evening. The women’s team, which beat Canada to win its third gold medal since women’s hockey was added to the Games in 1998, declined the invitation, citing “timing and anticipated academic and professional commitments.”
Trump said during his speech that the women’s team would be heading to the Oval Office “soon,” but USA Hockey has not confirmed any plans.
Knight, 36, had three goals and three assists in seven games at the Milan Cortina Olympics, which she said would be the last of her storied career. She has the most Olympic goals (15) and points (33) of any American hockey player, male or female.
“I think it’s a really good learning point to focus on how we talk about women, not only in sports but in the industry,” she said Wednesday. “Women are nothing less than. Our achievements should not be overshadowed by anything other than their greatness.”
