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Hilary Knight, Hayley Scamurra and US men’s and women’s stars speak out after Trump’s “distasteful” comment

Ash Anjum
8–12 minutes

Following President Donald Trump’s controversial joke about the US women’s hockey team during a congratulatory call to the men’s squad, the American players have broken their silence with a clear message that women’s achievements deserve better. Team captain Hilary Knight called Trump’s remark a “distasteful joke” this week while pointing to a broader lesson about how society talks about women in sports.

Forward Hayley Scamurra and Kelly Pannek also addressed the incident, each offering their perspective on a controversy that threatened to overshadow their historic gold medal.

The incident happened when Trump called the men’s team in their locker room after they won gold on February 22. With FBI Director Kash Patel holding the phone, Trump told them he would need to invite the women’s team to his State of the Union address, joking that he would “probably be impeached” if he didn’t.

The men’s team laughed raucously in response, as seen in the clip.

Hilary Knight unwilling to see achievements diminished

Hilary Knight, who scored the game-tying goal with just over two minutes left in the gold medal match, used the moment to deliver a pointed message about gender equity.

“I think this is just a really good learning point to really focus on, you know, how we talk about women,” the US captain said. “Not only in sport, but in industry. Women aren’t less than, and our achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are.”

Knight’s words carry weight. This was her fifth and final Olympic Games, a record for any American hockey player, and she leaves having broken numerous records. Her 15 career Olympic goals and 33 points both stand as all-time marks for Team USA. The gold medal was her second, adding to three silver medals.

While acknowledging her frustration, Knight maintained perspective about the men’s team, noting they were “in a tough spot” during the call. Her focus remained on celebration.

“I think for us, it’s about getting back to the focus on our team and what our team accomplished,” Knight said, describing her desire to “celebrate the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts, and continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history.”

The 2026 gold was only the third in Team USA history, following victories in 1998 in Nagano and 2018 in PyeongChang.

Charlie McAvoy, Jeremy Swayman acknowledged the misstep

The controversy prompted responses from several members of the men’s team as well, with players expressing regret about their reaction.

Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman said the team “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s comment. “We know that we are so excited for the women’s team, we have so much respect for the women’s team, and to share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for,” Swayman told reporters.

His Bruins teammate Charlie McAvoy offered an apology: “Certainly sorry for how we responded to it in that moment, you know, things that just happened really quick there.”

He pointed to the close relationship between the teams, saying: “If you know the men’s team and if you know the relationships that we have, the amount of time that we’ve spent, you know, with the women’s team and how we’ve supported them, it’s certainly not reflective of how we feel.”

Jack Hughes persistently pushed back against criticism

New Jersey Devils centre Jack Hughes, who scored the gold medal-winning goal for the men’s team, took a more reserved approach.

When asked if he agreed they should have reacted differently, Hughes simply said “it is what it is” before adding: “You’re in the moment, the president calls, we’re blaring the music, they pause the music, and then the president calls. Obviously, it is what it is now, but we have so much respect for the women’s team, and they have so much respect for us.”

Since the controversy erupted, he has repeatedly pushed back against criticism on multiple platforms.

At a Monday night appearance at E11even nightclub in Miami, Hughes argued that people were “trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing.”

On Tuesday’s appearances on ESPN and Good Morning America, he detailed the close bond forged between the teams in the Olympic Village, including a 3:30 a.m. celebration together in the cafeteria after the men’s victory.

“Everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them,” Hughes said. “The same way we feel about them, they feel about us.”

Scamurra overlooking the negativity in face of love and support

For Hayley Scamurra, the 2026 Olympics were the fulfillment of a childhood dream. The Getzville, New York native had won silver at the 2022 Beijing Games, a medal she keeps hidden at home. This time was different.

Scamurra contributed three goals throughout the tournament and was on the ice when Megan Keller’s overtime winner found the net.

“It’s indescribable,” Scamurra said, her voice catching with emotion. “To be honest, I think it’s just years of hard work and a dream finally coming true. And realizing it with your teammates on the ice, there’s nothing better. And then seeing the family in the stands and being able to celebrate with them like the people who helped you get to that point, and it was so emotional.”

Among those family members was her father, Peter Scamurra, a former NHL player who almost didn’t make the trip to Milan. “As soon as I saw my mom and my dad, like, I just started crying on the ice,” Hayley recalled. “My dad almost didn’t come. He wasn’t sure. And then we made it work. He’s been my coach all my life, and hockey is our shared passion together. So, it’s super important to us that we get to celebrate that together.”

When asked about Trump’s phone call on “The Hockey Lifers” podcast, Scamurra emphasized unity. “I think, you know, the call was what it was,” she said. “And honestly, like, the outpouring of love and support we’ve kind of received since that has outweighed any other feelings that I have.”

Kelly Pannek not surprised by the incident

USA star Kelly Pannek didn’t mince words when discussing the controversy.

“With the phone call specifically, it’s not surprising, to be frank,” Pannek told reporters. “So I don’t know why we expect differently, but I think for us, it’s also just about getting back to the focus on our team and what our team accomplished.”

Her comments carried an undertone of weary familiarity as if this was just another chapter in women’s sports fighting for recognition. But like her teammates, she refused to let the moment define their achievement.

Pannek spoke warmly about the actual relationship between the teams during the Olympics. “That’s something we all know, being there, what it felt like to have their support throughout the tournament,” she explained. “To support them, and how great a moment it was for everyone that was a fan of both teams to come together and say how great it was.”

The US women’s team had a dominant tournament

The women’s desire to refocus on their performance was well-founded. Team USA steamrolled through the competition, outscoring opponents 33–2 across seven games.

The Americans won all four group stage matches, defeating Czechia 5–1, Finland 5–0, Switzerland 5–0 and Canada 5–0. Scamurra set the tone in the opener with two goals against Czechia.

The knockout rounds continued the domination: Italy fell 6–0 in the quarterfinals, followed by a 5–0 semifinal shutout of Sweden. Scamurra scored the fifth goal after receiving a cross-crease pass from Britta Curl-Salemme.

The gold medal game proved to be the only real test. Canada took an early lead and defended stubbornly. But Knight’s heroics, followed by Keller’s overtime winner at 4:07, secured the championship.

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The White House question

Following the controversy, the women’s team declined Trump’s State of the Union invitation, citing “timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.” Many players needed to return to their Professional Women’s Hockey League teams.

The men’s team largely attended both the State of the Union and a subsequent White House visit. Trump awarded goalie Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Pannek clarified that the team expects to receive a formal White House invitation later, one that would include all Team USA Olympic athletes. “I know, like, later on, there’ll be a full invite for all Team USA athletes to go to the White House like there has been in the past,” she told CBS News.

As the team members return to their professional careers in the PWHL, what remains is the golden reality of their achievement. Knight, having announced 2026 would be her final Olympics, continues her career with the Seattle Torrent. Scamurra returns to the Montreal Victoire.

“I think what’s super special is having an opportunity to cement the legacy of this team and what we’re about,” Knight said before the gold medal game. “This is such a special group, and I’m really excited that we get to share it with the world and hopefully cement that legacy together.”

They did exactly that. While one phone call attempted to diminish their moment, the women of Team USA refused to let it. Their focus remained where it had always been. On the ice and on the legacy they’re building.

Perhaps Scamurra said it best: “I think the outpouring of love and support we’ve kind of received since that has outweighed any other feelings that I have.”

The US women’s hockey team’s 2026 Olympic gold medal stands on its own merits, and no joke can diminish that.

One response to “Hilary Knight, Hayley Scamurra and US men’s and women’s stars speak out after Trump’s “distasteful” comment”

  1. brisklyrunawaye4cf52ad97 Avatar
    brisklyrunawaye4cf52ad97

    Greatest team of all time

    Reply

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