History-making US hockey star Laila Edwards appeared to take a shot at her male counterparts after they laughed at a controversial joke by Donald Trump.
Team USA enjoyed double Winter Olympics glory on the ice, with both the men’s and women’s team beating rivals Canada in overtime in Milan.
Trump phoned the men’s team after they secured a first gold medal in 46 years, inviting them to the White House and his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
In a leaked clip from inside the locker room, Trump told the players: ‘I must tell you, we are going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that. I do believe I would probably be impeached [if I didn’t invite them].’
His comment drew laughter from Mike Sullivan’s players, who instantly accepted the offer. An invitation was later sent to the women’s team, too, but it was declined.
Both Trump’s comment – and the reaction from the players – sparked fury from critics, including ex-ESPN star Keith Olbermann who said anyone that accepts the president’s invite is ‘declaring their indelible stupidity and misogyny.’
History-making US hockey star Laila Edwards appeared to take a shot at her male counterparts
They laughed at Donald Trump’s joke at the expense of the gold medal-winning women’s team
Edwards also appears to be unimpressed by the players’ reaction. She 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 >>>’
On Monday, however, men’s hockey hero Jack Hughes insisted they are ‘so tight’ with the women’s group.
‘Everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them and we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us.’
Edwards, 21, became the first Black female hockey player to represent the US at the Olympics but her family was only able to watch after an outpouring of donations on GoFundMe.
She and the rest of Team USA women’s hockey stars are said to be headed to Las Vegas to celebrate their gold with Flavor Flav – despite shunning Trump over ‘previously scheduled… commitments.’
The rap icon claimed Hilary Knight and Co have accepted his offer to throw a party in Sin City.
In the wake of the controversy over Trump’s comments, Flavor Flav – real name William Jonathan Drayton Jr. – posted on social media: ‘If the USA Women’s Hockey team wants a real celebration and invite… I’ll host them in Las Vegas.
‘Do some nice dinners and shows and good times. I’m sure I can get a hotel and airline to help me out here and celebrate these women for real for real.’
The men’s hockey team won their first gold medal since 1980 by beating the Canadians
A few days earlier, Team USA also won the women’s event by beating Canada in overtime
He later posted on Instagram that they had accepted the invitation. The White House did reach out to the women’s team but they said they were unable to go ‘due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.’
‘We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,’ a USA hockey spokesperson was quoted as saying by NBC.
‘They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.’
Earlier this month, Edwards celebrated Olympic gold alongside her loved ones – thanks to a huge helping hand from Travis and Jason Kelce.
The family’s GoFundMe page raised more than $60,000, with the biggest contribution – worth $10,000 – coming from the Kelce brothers. They, like Edwards, are from Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
The fundraiser allowed 10 family members – including Edwards’ 91-year-old grandmother Ernestine Gray – and four friends to travel from the US.