US women’s hockey gold medalist Hilary Knight calls Trump’s invite joke ‘distasteful’

(Gray News) — U.S. women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight called President Donald Trump’s controversial joke about the team “distasteful” in a recent interview with ESPN.

“I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke, and unfortunately that is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats,” Knight said.

She added, “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. And really not detract from that with a distasteful joke.”

In videos posted on social media, Trump can be heard on speakerphone inviting the U.S. men’s hockey team to the White House and then making a joke about “having to” invite the gold‑medal‑winning U.S. women’s hockey team.

“What would really be cool, and we’ll do the White House next time, we’ll just have some fun, we have medals for you guys. And we have to, I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?” Trump said with a laugh.

The team erupted in laughter.

“I do believe that I would probably be impeached [if the women’s team was not invited],” Trump said.

Since the videos of the phone call went viral on social media, the men’s team has received criticism.

After the men’s team arrived back home on U.S. soil, Hughes told The Daily Mail he felt that people were “making something out of almost nothing,” referring to Trump’s joke about inviting the women’s team.

“Everyone’s giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today, but people are so negative out there and they are just trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing,” Hughes told The Daily Mail.

The women’s team declined Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union address scheduled for Tuesday night. It’s unclear whether they will attend any future events at the White House.

“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement," a USA Hockey spokesperson told NBC News. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.”

A majority of the men’s hockey players met with Trump at the White House Tuesday and then attended the State of the Union address that evening.

Only five members were notably absent: Brock Nelson of the Colorado Avalanche, Jackson LaCombe of the Anaheim Ducks, Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars, Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets.