Two-time World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe isn't holding back her thoughts on the U.S. men's hockey team.
After Team USA took down Canada in a thrilling final, President Donald Trump called the players to congratulate them. As he was inviting them to the White House, he made a comment about the U.S. women's team that ruffled plenty of feathers.
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” the president told the men’s hockey team. “I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
Shortly after Trump made that remark, the U.S. women's team declined an invitation to the White House due to a scheduling conflict.
“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 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 honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
The U.S. men's hockey team, meanwhile, attended Trump’s State of the Union address this past Tuesday night. Some people thought Connor Hellebuyck, Jack Hughes and the rest of Team USA should've turned down this opportunity to show support for the women's squad.
© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
On the latest episode of her "A Touch More" podcast, Rapinoe shared her thoughts on this controversy. She made it clear that she's disappointed with the men's hockey team.
In fact, Rapinoe believes the U.S. men's team ruined their triumphant moment at the 2026 Olympics.
"In what I like to call a classic 'ripping defeat from the jaws of victory,' the United States men's hockey team, in their utter moment of glory, childhood dreams come true, sensational, ruined it for themselves," Rapinoe declared. "They allowed themselves to be co-opted by a clown. And now you're a clown. You look like a clown. Kash Patel is in the locker room, partying, chugging beers. I'm not decorum over everything. That's not what I need out of my FBI director. Like, what are we doing.
"They get on the phone with Trump and Trump makes the comment about the women's team. We're not gonna play it, it's all over the internet and we're not gonna platform that trash. First of all, the joke isn't even funny. I don't understand the funny part of the joke. And, like, why don't you respect you more than to have that moment be taken by someone who for no reason at all takes a huge swing and a jab at women who did the exact same thing as you did."
Team USA players apologize.
Amid all the backlash the U.S. men's team has received this week, Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy issued a public apology.
"Certainly sorry for how we responded to it in that moment. Things just happened really quick there. … It’s certainly not reflective of how we feel and look at them and their accomplishments," McAvoy said.
Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman also apologized to the U.S. women's team.
“We should’ve reacted differently,” Swayman said, per The Skate Pod’s Scott McLaughlin. “We know that we are so excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team. To share that gold medal with them is something we’re forever grateful for. Now that we’re home, we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support that we have from the USA and share in this incredible gold medal.”
It sounds like the men's and women's hockey teams for the United States are on good terms despite all the drama on social media.