US women’s ice hockey captain slams Donald Trump’s ‘sexist’ comment

The captain of the United States Olympic women's ice hockey team has hit out at Donald Trump over a 'sexist' remark he made about the team following their Gold medal win.

Hilary Knight's comments come after the US president called into the men's ice hockey team's locker room during their victory celebrations, to invite the players to be his guests at the State of the Union address in the White House.

Trump was filmed telling the team over a speakerphone held by FBI Director Kash Patel: "I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team. You do know that. I do believe I probably would be impeached [if the women’s team wasn’t invited]."

While several of the men's players could be seen laughing at the comment, five-time Olympic medallist Knight has called out the president over his 'distasteful joke.'

The US women's hockey team won gold at the Winter Olympics (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

“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," she said, during an appearance on SportsCenter on Wednesday, 25 February.

"We’re just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts, and continue to celebrate three gold medals in programme 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."

The incident has understandably caused a fair bit of backlash for both Trump and the men's team, prompting Jack Hughes, who scored the goal which won the game against Canada, to address the situation on Good Morning America earlier this week.

Trump invited the US men's hockey team to the White House (White House/X)

"People are so negative about things. I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support [the women’s team], how proud we are of them," he told the hosts. "The same way we feel about them, they feel about us."

These comments have been echoed by Knight, who agreed the controversy had overshadowed the respect both teams have for one another.

She said: "I think the guys were in a tough spot, so I think it’s a shame this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on."

Trump's comments have been described as a 'distasteful joke' (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, two-time gold medalist Kelly Pannek agreed, telling reporters: "We all know being there what it felt like to have [the men’s team’s] support throughout the tournament, to support them and how great of a moment it was for everyone that was a fan of both teams.

"The phone call specifically, it’s not surprising, to be frank. I don’t know why we’d expect differently."

Goaltender for the US men's team Jeremy Swayman told reporters his team 'should've reacted differently' to Trump's comments.

"We know that we’re so excited for the women’s team, we have so much respect for the women’s team," he said. "To share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for."