Hughes’ brothers mom responds to SOTU controversy after Trump’s remarks

After President Donald Trump called the men’s Olympic hockey team to congratulate them on their gold medal, he was criticized for what was seen by some as a lack of respect for the women’s team who suffered the same fate.

Three days before Jack Hughes’ golden goal, Megan Keller did the same for Canada in the women’s gold medal.

Trump told the men’s team after inviting them to Tuesday’s State of the Union conference that he “should” invite the women’s team or “I’d probably be impeached.”

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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)

Hughes’ mother, Ellen, a player development consultant for the U.S. women’s ice hockey team, was not bothered by Trump’s comments.

“These players, men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and a country,” she told “Today”. “The people who cheered don’t watch hockey, the people who have politics one way or the other, and that’s all the men’s team and the women’s team care about.”

“If you could see what we see from the inside, and the men and women sharing, you know, the dorms and the hallways and the flexible floors and the camaraderie and the synergy and the way the women encourage the men and the way the men encourage the women, that’s what it’s all about,” she continued. “And the other things they can’t control. They care about humanity. They care about unity and they care about the country.”

Megan Keller (5) of Team USA warms up before the Women’s Preliminary Round Group A match between the United States and Czechia on the first day of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on February 5, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Hughes’ brother Quinn, who scored an overtime goal against Sweden last week, said it was “amazing to spend time” with the women’s team at the Olympic Village.

“And then obviously look at them, Jack and I were there, we saw them win the gold medal. They came to our game and got to watch us,” he said. “So just the support, just getting to know them better, was special too.”

The women’s team declined an invitation to Washington, D.C., citing schedules. Several members of the men’s team will be in attendance after partying in Miami on Monday.

Brady Tkachuk, Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes attend a celebration of the United States men’s hockey team’s Olympic gold medal at E11EVEN Miami on February 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)

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