WASHINGTON D.C. — Soccer icon and two-time Olympic medalist Megan Rapinoe has launched a sharp critique of the U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team, accusing the gold-medal winners of allowing their achievement to be “co-opted” by President Donald Trump following a controversial locker room phone call and subsequent visit to the State of the Union address.
The friction stems from a February 22 celebratory call placed by the 79-year-old President to the men’s team following their victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. During the exchange, Trump invited the roster to attend his State of the Union address on February 24. However, the President sparked immediate backlash when he referred to the gold-medal-winning women’s hockey team by stating he’d “have to” invite them as well—a comment met with laughter from the men’s locker room.
“Ripping Defeat from the Jaws of Victory”
Speaking on the February 26 episode of her podcast, A Touch More, Rapinoe—who famously feuded with Trump during her own championship run in 2019—did not mince words regarding the men’s team’s conduct.
“It’s a classic ripping defeat from the jaws of victory,” Rapinoe told co-host and partner Sue Bird. “They ruined the joy of their win in their utter moment of glory… they allowed themselves to be totally co-opted by a clown.”
Rapinoe specifically targeted the team’s reaction to Trump’s dismissive remarks regarding their female counterparts. While the men’s team largely accepted the invitation to Washington, the women’s hockey team declined.
“You just accomplished this amazing thing,” Rapinoe said. “And then you just gave this whole moment over to this person, who you know is just only going to use it for him.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/Megan-Rapinoe-us-mens-hockey-022726-3-3003af45eb2c4c0ba3ec7de22ff1644a.jpg)
A Tale of Two Teams: The Political Divide
The incident has highlighted a stark contrast in how Olympic athletes navigate the political landscape in 2026. While the men’s team stood in the House Chamber for the State of the Union, the women’s team’s absence served as a silent protest against the President’s rhetoric.
| Event | Men’s Hockey Team Response | Women’s Hockey Team Response |
| Locker Room Call | Participated and laughed at “joke.” | Not included in the initial call. |
| SOTU Invitation | Majority attended in person. | Formally declined the invitation. |
| White House Visit | Met with President Trump. | Did not attend. |
Rapinoe argued that the men’s team failed to protect the sanctity of their achievement. “Why don’t you respect [yourself] enough to not be used in this moment?” she questioned, noting that the athletes already possessed the only validation they needed: the gold medals around their necks.
Team USA Reconciliation Efforts
In the wake of the criticism, members of the men’s squad have attempted to de-escalate the tension. Jeremy Swayman, the 27-year-old star goalie for the Boston Bruins, admitted that the team’s reaction in the locker room was flawed.
“We know that we are so excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team,” Swayman told reporters, adding that the team should have “reacted differently” during the phone call.
The fallout continues to spark debate over the intersection of sports and politics, particularly as President Trump reportedly prepares to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to men’s goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
