President Donald Trump‘s joke about inviting the Olympic women’s hockey team to the White House against his will was ‘distasteful,’ Hilary Knight said Wednesday, but not worth distracting from Team USA‘s success, according to the gold medalist.
‘I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate,’ Knight said alongside fellow Olympians Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes at the Seattle Space Needle ahead of their return to play for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
‘And, I think just the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point and really shines light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats.’
Knight, a two-time gold medalist whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition are the most by a US hockey player at the Games, said she’s not focusing on an offhand comment by Trump after the American men topped Canada for gold in overtime on Sunday.
Talking on a speakerphone in the postgame locker room, Trump extended an invitation to the White House to the men’s team, then added, ‘We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.’ The president later joked that if he didn’t extend the invitation, he would probably be impeached.
Many of the men’s players were seen laughing at Trump’s latest locker-room joke, but on Wednesday, Team USA backup goalie and Boston Bruins star Jeremy Swayman admitted to regretting that response.
President Donald Trump’s joke about inviting the Olympic women’s hockey team to the White House against his will was ‘distasteful,’ captain Hilary Knight (pictured) said Wednesday
Trump made his joke on a speaker phone on the Team USA locker room after Sunday’s win
‘We should’ve reacted differently,’ Swayman told reporters in Boston on Wednesday. ‘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.
‘You know, now that we’re home, we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support that we have from the USA, and sharing this incredible gold medal,’ he added.
Swayman surrendered three goals in his only Olympic appearance – a win over Denmark.
Team USA women’s star Laila Edwards noticed Trump’s joke, but appeared more focused on the response it elicited from the men’s team. After the Trump joke went viral on social media, Edwards liked a post on Instagram which carried a quote, purportedly from comedian Tina Fey.
‘You can tell how smart people are by what they laugh at,’ read the post. It was captioned: ‘Anyway, women >>>’
Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman admitted the men’s players should have reacted differently
Team USA and New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes dismissed the controversy Monday, insisting the men’s and women’s players are ‘tight.’
Knight agreed with that assessment when speaking with reporters Wednesday.
‘I think there’s a genuine level of support there and respect,’ Knight said. ‘I think that’s being overshadowed by a quick lapse. I think the guys were in a tough spot, so I think it’s a shame this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on.’
Hughes and the vast majority of the men’s team flew to Washington on Tuesday and visited Trump in the White House before being guests at the State of the Union.
Meanwhile, many of the women’s players were on the way back to their professional or college clubs.
USA Hockey, which said it was ‘honored’ by the invitation, cited logistical issues as the major hurdle that prevented the women’s team from stopping by the White House. The team was originally scheduled to fly commercially into New York on Monday, but was forced to reroute through Atlanta due to a snowstorm in the Northeast.
Several players were going to stick around New York for promotional purposes, even ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Those scheduled appearances had to be canceled because of flight changes.
Knight lamented that the video – which included several players laughing after Trump’s comments – took on a life of its own and didn’t convey the true nature of the relationship between the men’s and women’s US hockey programs.
‘The men’s and the women’s team did it together,’ Knight said. ‘And, that’s super special. It’s never been done in our program’s history. It’s something we’re extremely proud about. But these women are amazing. And whatever’s going on should never outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world stage.’
History-making US hockey star Laila Edwards appeared to take a shot at her male counterparts
Kelly Pannek, a forward on the women’s team, told reporters ‘the video is what it is’ but added it was a ‘special feeling’ spending time with the men’s team after they won the first Olympic gold for the US in 46 years. Pannek believes there is mutual respect and support on both sides.
The earliest the US women could make a White House visit would be in late spring after the conclusion of the PWHL season.
The US won 12 gold medals in Milan Cortina, with women playing a hand in eight of them. The women’s hockey team outscored opponents 33-2 on its way to the top of the podium.
‘This was the best American women’s hockey team, the best American team we’ve ever put together on the world stage when the lights have been the brightest ever,’ Knight said. ‘And so, I think everybody felt that going through the tournament. And, I want to celebrate. I want people to be remembered for that. I want the legacy of this team to be remembered.’