US ice hockey star who defended Trump’s ‘sexist’ joke has blunt response to teammate’s apology
Team USA ice hockey player Jack Hughes has responded to his teammate’s words over his team’s reaction to US President Donald Trump's 'sexist' joke.
Trump's comments were not well received after the men’s team won 2-1 over Canada at the Winter Olympics.
Three days beforehand (19 February), the women's hockey squad also took home the same 2-1 result against Canada in their own final, but unlike the men, they didn’t get a personal call from the president.
Instead, a video on social media began to be shared online which shows FBI Director Kash Patel drinking from a bottle of beer in the men's locker room and holding up a phone.
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It was that moment that the 79-year-old Republican could be heard offering to fly the men's team to Washington for Tuesday’s (24 February) State of the Union address.
What did Trump say?
"We’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. I could send a military plane or something, if you would like to. It’s the coolest night. It’s the biggest speech," he said over speakerphone.
But then Trump took the opportunity to joke about the women’s team, telling the group: "And we have to - I must tell you - we’re going to have to bring the women’s team."
Some people could be heard laughing in the room as he added: "[If I don’t] do that, I do believe I probably would be impeached, OK?"
A spokesperson for the women's team later told NBC that, due to 'timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments', they would be declining Trump's offer.
Meanwhile, the men’s team visited the White House on Tuesday, but there were several notable absences.
In response to the backlash calling the comments ‘sexist’ and criticising the team for laughing, a number of players have spoken out.
What has the US men's hockey team said about the backlash?
Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal, was among the first to share their thoughts and defended the reaction.
However, Jeremy Swayman said he has 'so much respect for the women's team' and admitted that laughing was an error on their part.
In a video shared by the New England Hockey Journal's journalist Evan Marinofsky, he was asked: "Jeremy, there was some reaction to the post-game video. What is your reaction to that?"
The sportsman replied: "Yep, should have reacted differently. We know that. We're so excited for the women's team. We have so much respect for the women's team, and to share that gold medal with them is something that we'll be forever grateful for."
He added: "You know, now that we're home, we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support that we have from the USA, sharing this incredible gold medal."
But now, Hughes has issued another response of the back of Swayman’s, with the New York Post Sports posting the clip on X.
'Proud Americans'
In the video, Hughes can be seen sitting in front of reporters as he’s asked if he 'agrees' with the goalie’s words.
He responded by saying that 'in the moment' when the 'president calls', things happened.
Saying it 'is what is it', Hughes shared that they have 'so much respect for the women’s team' and that they also respect the men’s team too.
Calling everyone just 'proud Americans', the hockey player went on to say they’re all just 'happy we swept the Olympics'.
What did Jack Hughes originally say about the backlash?
Hughes’ latest statement comes after he initially told the Daily Mail: "They've got busy schedules, too. Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today.
"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 continued: "Our relationship with them, over the course of being in the Athletes' Village, I think we are so tight with their group.
"After we won the gold medal, we were in the cafeteria at 3.30 am in the morning with them, and we go from there, pack our bags and we're on the bus.
"People are so negative about things. I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them and we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us."
Hughes reportedly said in response to whether he was excited to fly out: "Yeah, we're excited. Everything is so political. We're athletes.
"We're so proud to represent the US and when you get the chance to go to White House and meet the president, we're proud to be Americans and that's so patriotic.
"No matter what your views are, we're super excited to go to the White House tomorrow and be a part of that."
Topics: Donald Trump, Olympics, Sport
Britt Jones