‘Women Aren’t Less Than’: Team USA Women’s Hockey Players Address President Trump’s Joke

… we really need to stop being so sensitive, wow.

Players from the United States women’s hockey squad don’t want their gold medal glory in the 2026 Winter Olympics to be shrouded by the negativity surrounding the joke President Donald Trump made regarding inviting the women’s team to the White House. Trump made the joke while on a phone call with the men’s team. (RELATED: Team USA Hockey’s Olympic Gold Medal Victory Brings In Largest Pre-9AM Ratings Of All-Time)

The president called the men while they were in the locker room celebrating their 2-1 gold medal victory Sunday over Canada, ultimately inviting them to the State of the Union address that took place Tuesday.

However, the joke that Trump made during the call about sending an invitation to the women’s squad and the laughter that followed from the men’s team, which was recorded and went viral on social media, caused a boat load of sensitive nature from people. Basically, our society’s precious little flowers believe that Trump’s joke took away from the women and their gold medal.

Donald Trump joked about the Olympic women’s hockey team during a phone call with the USA men’s team.

After the men’s team won the gold medal against Canada on Sunday (22 February), FBI director Kash Patel joined the celebrations in their locker room, calling the president to… pic.twitter.com/IhDj8PUkk3

— The Independent (@Independent) February 23, 2026

During a Wednesday edition of “SportsCenter” on ESPN, women’s team captain Hilary Knight said that she thought Trump’s joke is “distasteful,” but in her opinion, the men were “in a tough spot.”

“I think this is just a really good learning point to really focus on, you know, how we talk about women,” said Knight. “Not only in sport, but in industry. Women aren’t less than and our achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are.”

USA women’s hockey gold medalist @HilaryKnight describes her team’s relationship with the USA men’s team as one with a “genuine level of support and respect” that’s being overshadowed by a “quick lapse.”

“Our achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how… pic.twitter.com/0oDaQwQi9B

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 25, 2026

Kelly Pannek, who plays for Team USA and the Minnesota Frost in the PWHL, spoke to the media and said that the men supported them throughout the Olympics. As far as the phone call, she said “it’s not surprising, to be frank.”

“With the phone call specifically, it’s not surprising, to be frank,” said Pannek. “So I don’t know why we expect differently, but I think for us, it’s also just about getting back to the focus on our team and what our team accomplished.”

“The phone call specifically is not surprising to be frank, so I don’t know why we expect differently.”

2x Gold Medalist Kelly Pannek spoke on President Trump’s call with the USA Men’s team after winning the gold.

(via @jessi_pierce) pic.twitter.com/fHlpRds4tJ

— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) February 25, 2026

Hayley Scamurra, a member of the Team USA women’s team and forward for the Montréal Victoire, also addressed the president’s joke Tuesday during “The Hockey Lifers” podcast.

“I think, you know, the call was what it was,” said Scamurra. “And honestly, like the outpouring of love and support we’ve kind of received since that has outweighed any other feelings that I have.”

On a special edition of The Hockey Lifers we spoke to gold medalist Hayley Scamurra.

Here’s a clip about ‘the phone call’. pic.twitter.com/73HTHrc5zo

— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) February 25, 2026

What a joke. (Pun intended)