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Former U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe criticized the U.S. men’s hockey team for their response to President Donald Trump’s phone call in the locker room after their gold medal win over Canada in Milan Cortina, calling the players and the president “a clown” over what she said was a “garbage” remark about the women’s gold medal hockey team.
Rapinoe, an outspoken critic of Trump, spoke at length about the postgame interaction with the president during the latest episode of her podcast with WNBA great Sue Bird, “One touch more.”
Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe look on during the first quarter of the USA vs. France men’s basketball gold medal game at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at Accor Arena on August 10, 2024. (Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)
The retired soccer star took issue with Trump’s call, specifically his joke that he would also “have to” invite the women’s team to Tuesday’s State of the Union address, and the men’s reaction to the remark.
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“The United States men’s hockey team in their absolute moment of glory, childhood dreams come true, a lifetime achievement, sensational — ruined it for themselves because they let themselves be totally co-opted by a clown. And now you’re a clown. You look like a clown,” she began.
Rapinoe did not play a clip of the remark, adding: “We’re not going to platform that garbage.”
She went on to admit that she understands the environment and how the team could “get yourself enveloped in this moment”, but expressed her disappointment that the men’s team did not respect their counterparts – or themselves.
“… And then you just gave this whole moment over to this person who you know just wants to use it only for him, and want to completely separate it.”
Gold medalists Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes of Team United celebrate after the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
She continued: “Why don’t you respect yourself more than to have that moment taken by someone who for no reason just takes a huge swing and a jab at women who did the exact same thing you did.”
Rapinoe also took issue with FBI Director Kash Patel’s presence in the locker room, recalling her playing days and how she would have handled those situations differently.
“Kash Patel’s in the locker room, he’s partying, he’s chugging beer—I’m not like, all over the place, that’s not what I need out of my FBI director, like what are we doing? It’s just whatever is beside the point.”
She later added, “I would never have … those people would never be allowed in our dressing room.”
Bird added that her biggest problem with the interaction was seeing it know the relationship between both the men’s and women’s teams, which she called “genuine.”
“This person, who happens to be the president of the United States, makes a joke that is and feels dismissive, and I don’t understand the part where the men’s hockey team is actually close to the women’s hockey team,” she said.
“If my friends were dismissed like this, why would I ever laugh? Period. Take the rest of it out. That’s what I don’t understand.”
Team USA gold medalist Hilary Knight celebrates after the women’s ice hockey medal ceremony following the women’s gold medal game between the United States and Canada on Day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
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US women’s hockey star Hillary Knight addressed the controversy on ESPN, calling the joke “tasteless” but defending the men’s players.
“I think there’s a real level of support and respect,” she said. “I think it gets overshadowed by a quick lapse. I think the guys were in a difficult situation, so I think it’s a shame that this story and narrative is kind of blown up and overshadows that connection and genuine interest in each other and cheering each other on.”
The women’s hockey team declined an invitation to the State of the Union address, but USA Hockey said in a later statement that the team would “soon” visit the White House to celebrate their gold medal success “based on their schedules as their seasons end.”
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