Rhiannon Ingle
Team USA hockey player, Jack Hughes, has broken his silence following the backlash caused by US President Donald Trump's 'sexist' joke about the women's team.
Trump's remarks came after the men’s team took home the gold medal with a 2-1 overtime win over Canada at the Winter Olympics. The women, meanwhile, had achieved the same 2-1 result against Canada in their own final just a matter of days earlier.
Footage from the men's victory celebration has since circled across social media, showing FBI Director Kash Patel drinking from a bottle of beer, and holding up a phone as Trump called to congratulate the team.
During the call, the 79-year-old Republican offered to fly the team to Washington for Tuesday’s address (24 February), with a White House visit planned for the next day.
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"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 to cheers and shouts of 'we’re in'.
However, Trump then took the opportunity to put down the women's team's efforts as he jabbed: "And we have to - I must tell you - we’re going to have to bring the women’s team."
Several team members could be seen laughing at his shocking comments, as Trump concluded: "[If I don’t] do that, I do believe I probably would be impeached, OK?"
The exchange was soon met with criticism online, with many 'disgusted' over Trump's remarks as well as the men's team's silence on his 'misogynistic' comments.
Others also aptly pointed out that, over the years, the women's team have been way more successful than the men's, winning a medal every year since the sport was introduced.
The women's team last took gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics, during Trump’s first term and were later welcomed to the White House in April 2018 as part of a wider Olympic celebration. However, the men’s triumph marked their first since the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal, has since spoken out following the online backlash.
"They've got busy schedules, too. Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today," the 24-year-old athlete told the Daily Mail.
"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."
When asked whether they are excited for their trip to meet Trump, Hughes reportedly added: "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."
A spokesperson for the women’s team has explained that both the men’s and women’s hockey teams were formally invited to attend Trump’s address on Tuesday.
The women's team, however, have declined the invitation.
"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," the team spokesperson said in a statement.
"Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honoured to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgement."
Tyla has previously reached out to both the White House and USA Hockey for comment.