MILAN-CORTINA – Key members of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey team are distancing themselves from a locker room incident involving a joke made by President Donald Trump regarding the gold-medal-winning women’s team. Following a wave of public scrutiny, players including Jeremy Swayman and Charlie McAvoy expressed regret this week, calling the team’s reaction a “mistake” that does not reflect their respect for their female counterparts.
The controversy stems from a celebratory phone call placed by FBI Director Kash Patel to President Trump in the men’s locker room following their victory over Canada. During the exchange, Trump invited the men to the State of the Union address, joking that he would “have” to invite the women’s team as well, or he “probably would be impeached.” Video of the call captured the room erupting in laughter, sparking immediate backlash across social media and sports media outlets.
Players Issue Public Apologies
As the team transitioned from Olympic celebrations to their respective NHL markets, several high-profile players addressed the optics of the video.
Jeremy Swayman: The Boston Bruins goaltender was the first to offer a direct pivot, telling reporters on Wednesday, “We should’ve reacted differently. We have so much respect for the women’s team. To share that gold medal with them is something we’re forever grateful for.”
Charlie McAvoy: The defenseman echoed those sentiments on Thursday, issuing a formal apology. “I am certainly sorry for how we responded to it in that moment,” McAvoy said, emphasizing that the laughter was “not reflective” of the genuine bond between the two programs.
Auston Matthews: The Team USA captain, who was notably absent from the gallery during Tuesday’s State of the Union, labeled the situation “unfortunate” and reiterated the men’s support for the women’s achievement.
Divided Reactions and the “Blow Up”
Not every player felt a formal apology was necessary. Jake Sanderson of the Ottawa Senators acknowledged the reaction was a mistake but suggested the narrative “got blown out of proportion.”
Meanwhile, Jack Hughes—the hero of the gold medal game—offered a more clipped response. When asked if he agreed with Swayman’s assessment that the team should have reacted differently, Hughes remarked, “It is what it is,” though he maintained he has “nothing but respect” for the women’s roster.
Impact on the Women’s Team
The U.S. Women’s National Team, who also secured gold in Milan-Cortina, declined the President’s invitation to the State of the Union, citing “scheduling issues.”
Captain Hilary Knight addressed the “distasteful” joke on ESPN’s SportsCenter, urging the public to move past the rhetoric and focus on the athletic milestone. “Women aren’t less than, and our achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are,” Knight stated, framing the incident as a “learning point” for the industry.
Context: A Record-Breaking Olympic Cycle
The friction comes at a time when USA Hockey is celebrating a rare “double gold” performance. Despite the unified success on the ice, the locker room incident highlights the ongoing cultural tensions surrounding the gender pay gap and visibility in professional sports—issues the women’s team has historically fought to rectify.
While the majority of the men’s team attended the State of the Union in Washington D.C. on Tuesday night, the fallout from the phone call continues to dominate the post-Olympic news cycle.
