'I Probably Would Be Impeached' — Trump's Leaked Sexist Remark About Women's Hockey Team Sparks Fury

It was supposed to be a moment of national celebration. Team USA had just pulled off a historic Olympic double—both the men's and women's ice hockey sides defeating Canada 2-1 in their respective finals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. But a leaked FaceTime call between President Donald Trump and the men's squad quickly overshadowed the victory lap, after Trump's offhand remark about the women's team was widely condemned as sexist.

In the footage, Trump told the men's players: 'We're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know... I do believe I probably would be impeached [if I didn't].' The line drew laughter from some players visible in the video—a reaction that many viewers found just as troubling as the remark itself. Rather than acknowledging the women's achievement on its own terms, the president framed their inclusion as political self-preservation. That distinction was not lost on those watching.

The Laughter That Said a Lot

The men's players who laughed during the call found themselves at the centre of a swift social media backlash. Critics argued their response—however casual—signalled a broader indifference to how the women's team was being spoken about, particularly given what that team had just accomplished on the ice. The US women clinched gold through a late equaliser from Hilary Knight before Megan Keller delivered the overtime winner, in a performance that matched the drama of Jack Hughes' golden goal for the men's side hours earlier.

For a squad that had just delivered one of the standout results of the entire Games, being referenced primarily as a political liability in a locker room celebration call struck many as a revealing moment — one that cut through the usual pageantry of White House sports diplomacy.

The Team's Response

The women's hockey team confirmed through a spokesperson that they would not be attending the State of the Union at the Capitol on Tuesday, despite having received an invitation from Trump. The statement pointed to scheduling conflicts, saying the athletes had 'previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games.'

'We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning US Women's Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,' the statement read. '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 acknowledgment.' Whether logistics alone drove that decision, or whether the tone of Trump's leaked remarks played any part, has not been addressed publicly by the team or its representatives.

Trump's Track Record With Champions

This is not the first time Trump has used sporting champions as a White House backdrop. He hosted the NHL-champion Florida Panthers in January, honouring the two-time reigning Stanley Cup winners for the second consecutive year. During the FaceTime call with the men's hockey team — confirmed by US men's coach Mike Sullivan — Trump made clear he wanted the players at the Capitol, telling them: 'The nice thing about being president is I can tell you, you don't have to worry about the weather or landing... We don't care if it's snowing or if it's the worst blizzard; you'll be sailing through that sucker just like you did on the ice today. We'll do the White House the next day. We'll just have some fun. We have medals for you guys.'

Sullivan himself offered a more measured account of the call, saying Trump had been 'expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everybody on the win,' and that 'this game, in a lot of ways, was an inspiration to our country.' His framing, notably, made no reference to the remark that had already begun circulating online.

Why This Goes Beyond a Joke

At its core, this episode taps into a debate that women's sport has never fully escaped — the question of whether female athletes are celebrated for what they achieve or tolerated for what their absence might cost. When one of the most powerful figures in the world suggests that including gold medallists in a White House invitation is purely an act of political survival, the message it sends to young athletes watching is worth taking seriously. The women's hockey team won their gold on merit. The manner in which that achievement was acknowledged, at least in that locker room, suggested something else entirely.