Members of the U.S. hockey team are facing backlash for their reaction to a joke about the women's team.
The U.S. men's team topped Canada, 2-1, in overtime on Sunday morning. The Americans, led by Jack Hughes - who scored the game-winning goal - won the gold medal for the first time since 1980. Following the game, President Trump gave the American men's team a call inside of the locker room.
President Trump congratulated the U.S. team on the win.
"Your goalie played not bad," President Trump said. "I’ve seen hockey goalies have slightly worse games," he added, while calling his performance "unbelievable."
President Trump then invited the U.S. team to join him at the State of the Union on Tuesday evening.
"We’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night," President Trump said. "I could send a military plane or something, but if you would like to, it’s the coolest night."
© David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images
During the call, President Trump "joked" that he would have to invite the women's team as well.
"I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that?" he said.
"If I don't do that, I'll probably be impeached."
Many of the U.S. players were seen and heard laughing at the "joke."
U.S. hockey players facing backlash online
Regardless of their intentions, U.S. hockey players are facing backlash for laughing at the idea of bringing the women's team, which also won the gold medal (and, to be frank, has been the far more successful team internationally over the years).
"They all should be ashamed of themselves. The only reason any of them even exist is because a woman gave birth to them. Laughing at a joke talking about the women’s team being inferior when they won the SAME medal is inexcusable," one fan wrote.
"So they took pictures with the women’s team, went to the game to cheer them on, praise them in the media, and in private they laugh at them. What a joke," one fan added.
"This is why I stress the importance of women supporting women because no one has your back like a fellow woman. These men were just smiling & posting with the women’s team just to turn around & do this," one fan added.
"Anyways, did everybody know the WNBA averages more viewers than the NHL?" another fan added.
The U.S. women's team has won three gold medals and 11 world championships.