Jack Hughes has addressed the criticism that followed a viral video of Donald Trump joking about the USA women’s hockey team during the men’s Olympic gold celebrations.
The backlash came after the American men secured a historic hockey gold medal in Milan, their first Olympic title since 1980.
Hughes has now clarified where the team stands.
Jack Hughes responds to backlash over Trump women’s team joke
Speaking to ESPN, Hughes said: “Our relationship with them, over the course of being in the Olympic Village, I think we are so tight with their group.
“After we won the gold medal, we were in the cafeteria at 3:30 a.m. in the morning with them. We go from there, pack our bags and we’re on the bus.”
The controversy stemmed from a locker-room phone call during the celebration in Milan after Hughes scored the overtime winner against Canada.
FBI director Kash Patel held the phone as Trump congratulated the team and joked that he would also need to invite the women’s team to the State of the Union, adding that he might otherwise be impeached.
Video of the players laughing at the remark circulated online, prompting criticism from some who felt the moment trivialised the women’s program. Hughes’ comments emphasised that the bond between the two squads remains strong.
Jack Hughes insists the men’s team fully supports the USA women
Hughes added, “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.
“The same way we feel about them, they feel about us.”
The men’s and women’s teams shared time in the Olympic Village, with players frequently supporting each other’s games throughout the tournament. Hughes’ remarks aimed to counter the narrative that the locker-room reaction reflected disrespect.
The gold medal marked a milestone for the American men’s program, ending a decades-long wait. Yet Hughes made clear that success was celebrated collectively across both squads.
As debate continues online, his message reinforces unity between the USA’s men’s and women’s hockey teams rather than division.
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