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President Donald Trump’s phone call to the US men’s Olympic hockey team sparked controversy after a mention of the women’s team was laughed at.
Speaking by phone with the team after they won gold, Trump said he would “have to” invite the women’s team, which also beat Canada to win the Olympics, to Tuesday’s State of the Union — or he would “probably be impeached.”
The snub drew some laughter in the locker room, which Team USA backup goaltender Jeremy Swayman appeared to regret.
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Goalie Jeremy Swayman of the United States during the ice hockey men’s preliminary round Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
“We should have reacted differently,” Swayman told reporters Wednesday when asked about the phone call.
Members of the men’s team, including Jack and Quinn Hughes, made it a point to mention that the teams celebrated and supported each other throughout the Olympics.
Swayman also hammered home the point.
“We know we’re so excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team. To share that gold medal with them is something we’re forever grateful for,” he said.
The women’s team declined an invitation to Washington, DC, citing scheduling conflicts. But Trump announced that they will visit the White House in good time.
Jack Hughes told reporters after the game that the first thing on his mind when the puck went in was Megan Keller, who scored the golden goal for the U.S. women’s team against Canada three days earlier.
Gold medalist Jeremy Swayman of Team United States celebrates after the men’s gold medal game 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. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Hughes’ brother, Quinn, who scored an injury-time goal against Sweden last week, said it was “fantastic to spend some time” with the women’s team in the Olympic village.
The brothers’ mother, Ellen, a former Team USA player and current player development officer, didn’t seem bothered by Trump’s comments.
“These players, both men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and a country,” she told “Today.” “People who were cheering, who don’t watch hockey, people who have politics on one side or the other, and that’s all that both the men’s team and the women’s team care about.
Team USA’s Jeremy Swayman looks on during the men’s preliminary Group C match between the United States and Denmark on day eight of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
“If you could see what we see from the inside and the men and women sharing, you know, dorms and halls and flexible floors and the camaraderie and the synergy and the way the women cheered on the men and the way the men cheered on the women — that’s what it’s all about,” she continued. “And the other things they can’t control. They care about humanity. They care about unity and they care about the country.”
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