Donald Trump has been accused of insulting the US women’s ice hockey team after a video of his congratulatory message to their male counterparts was shared on social media.
The American men’s side brought their long wait for ice hockey gold to an end with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win over Canada as the 2026 Winter Olympics drew to a close on Sunday.
The United States’ barren spell had stretched way back to 1980 – when they got the better of the Soviet Union in their famous ‘Miracle on Ice’ – and the emotions spilled out as Mike Sullivan’s players soaked up their victory.
The breathless contest ultimately came down to a three-on-three play and Jack Hughes made himself an overnight national hero with the decisive goal in Milan, coolly slotting home one minute and 41 seconds into the extra period.
Hughes – who had lost one of his front teeth after a nasty blow to the face in the third quarter – was immediately mobbed by his team-mates on the ice and the celebrations continued as the winning team proudly collected their medals.
When Hughes and Co returned to their dressing room, there was a big surprise waiting for them in the shape of a phone call from the US President, who had been watching on along with millions of his fellow countrymen and women.
‘By the way, your goalie [Connor Hellebuyck] played not bad! I have seen hockey goalies have slightly worse games than you,’ Trump was heard telling the US men’s roster via speakerphone in a call orchestrated by FBI director Kash Patel, who had travelled to Milan two days earlier.
WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE
‘It was unbelievable and you were all unbelievable.
‘That team was pretty good that you played!’
Trump went on to invite all 25 players as officials guests of honour to his State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington DC on Tuesday.
‘I tell you what, I just told my people two minutes ago, I didn’t know they’d be calling, I said we’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night.
‘I can send a military plane or something, but if you would like to, it’s the coolest night, it’s the biggest speech,’ he added.
‘We’ll get Kash [Patel] and we’ll get the military to get you guys over. The nice thing about being president is, I can tell you, you won’t have to worry about the weather or landing.
‘We don’t care if it’s snowing or if it’s the worst blizzard – we’ll be sailing through like you did on the ice.’
But Trump has come under fire for what he said next about the US women’s team, who had claimed ice hockey gold by beating Canada just 48 hours before the men.
‘I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team [to the State of the Union address]… you do know that?’ Trump said begrudgingly.
‘I do believe I probably would be impeached [if the women’s team weren’t invited].
‘But anyway, if you could work that out then I would be honoured to have all.’
He went on: ‘Congratulations, that was an unbelievable game. I don’t know one person that wasn’t… everyone that called me said they were watching the hockey game.
‘I don’t know anybody that wasn’t watching and you’re going to be proud of that game for 50 years as you grow older. It was amazing.
‘We love you, guys. Congratulations.’
In the hours since the clip began circulating on social media, Trump has been heavily criticised for his seemingly derogatory and misogynistic comments about the women’s team.
But the men’s side have also been accused of letting their female counterparts down with their reaction to Trump’s remarks, with fits of laughter heard in the locker room.
‘The women’s gold medal is no less important than the men’s gold medal. He’s such a misogynist. And why is Kash [Patel] there?’ one user on X responded.
‘Really hope the girls decline. I wouldn’t step foot in that place with that thing as president,’ another responded.
One fan took aim at the men’s team, tweeting: ‘Shame on them, they just tarnished their medals by disparaging their female counterparts.’
‘Wouldn’t expect anything less from USA hockey players…,’ wrote another.
The result took the United States’ impressive haul to 33 medals across the Winter Olympics, including 12 golds, 12 silvers and nine bronzes.
Norway finished top of the pile with a total of 41 medals after 17 days of unforgettable drama Milan Cortina.
US star Hughes said he was ‘proud to be American’ as he spoke to NBC Sports shortly after the victory.
‘This is all about our country right now!’ Hughes said.
‘I love the USA, I love my team-mates. It’s unbelievable.
‘The US hockey brotherhood, it’s so strong and we’ve had so much support from ex-players.
‘I’m so proud to be American today.’
The 24-year-old, who scooped gold alongside his brother Quinn, went on to single out goaltender Hellebuyck for special praise, just as Trump had done in his phone call.
‘It was an unbelievable game by Hellebuyck. He was our best player tonight by a mile,’ he added.
‘It was an unbelievable game, an unreal game by our team. It was just a ballsy, gutsy win.
‘That’s American hockey right there. It’s a great Canadian team but we’re so proud to be Americans and tonight was all for the country.’
Asked what the gold medal meant for US ice hockey, Hughes replied: ‘It’s everything.
‘Like I said, the USA hockey brotherhood means so much. We’re such a team, we’ve been together for two weeks and we’re such a team.
‘The US hockey brotherhood is so strong and we’re so proud to win for our country.’
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