Hilary Knight Wants Focus on US Women's Olympic Success, Not Trump's 'Distasteful Joke'

Knight says the video of Trump's comments has overshadowed the genuine connection between the men's and women's teams.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Hilary Knight, a two-time gold medalist on the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team, doesn't want a 'distasteful joke' by President Donald Trump about the team to overshadow the historic performance of American women across all sports at the Milan Cortina Games. Knight says the team is focused on celebrating their achievements, including three gold medals in program history, and the genuine connection between the men's and women's teams.

Why it matters

Knight's comments highlight the ongoing challenges women athletes face in getting the recognition they deserve, even after historic Olympic success. The incident with Trump's comments also raises questions about the relationship between the men's and women's national teams and how they are perceived.

The details

After the U.S. men's hockey team won gold, Trump invited them to the White House and joked that he would 'have to bring the women's team' as well. This comment was seen by some as dismissive of the women's achievements. While the men's team visited the White House, many of the women's players had already returned to their professional or college teams due to logistical issues. Knight says the video of Trump's comments has overshadowed the genuine support and respect between the two teams.

  • The U.S. women's hockey team won gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
  • The U.S. men's hockey team won gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
  • The men's team visited the White House on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.

The players

Hilary Knight

A two-time gold medalist on the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team, whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition are the most by a U.S. hockey player at the Games.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who made a 'distasteful joke' about the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team.

Kelly Pannek

A forward on the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team who said the video of Trump's comments was 'what it is' but that it was a 'special feeling' spending time with the men's team after they won gold.

Jeremy Swayman

The goaltender for the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team who said the men 'should have reacted differently' to Trump's remarks.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts. And continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men's and women's at the same time.”

— Hilary Knight (ESPN)

“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 U.S. in 46 years.”

— Kelly Pannek, forward on the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team (reporters)

“To share that gold medal with them is something that we're forever grateful for. And now that we're home we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support we have from the USA and share this incredible gold medal.”

— Jeremy Swayman, goaltender for the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team (reporters in Boston)

What’s next

The earliest the U.S. women's hockey team could visit the White House would be in late spring after the conclusion of the Professional Women's Hockey League season.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges women athletes face in getting the recognition they deserve, even after historic Olympic success. It also raises questions about the relationship between the men's and women's national teams and how they are perceived. Knight hopes this will be a 'learning point' that affects how women are talked about in the sports world.