US Olympic hockey hero Jack Hughes opens up about support for women’s team amid backlash over Trump’s joke

Jack Hughes of the United States celebrates after a gold medal win during against Canadaat Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games Feb.22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Hughes then appeared to address the recent criticism of his team for its response to Trump’s joke.

“Like all these people talking, how many of them watched their gold medal game?Me and Quinn Hughes were at the game.We were at the game until like overtime ended on the glass, and we were jumping up and down so excited for these girls, so excited they won,” Hughes said. 

“And how many of these people watched the gold medal game, watched their semifinals game?Like 10 of the 10 of our players went to their game in the round-robin.Like, we supported them so much, and we’re so proud of them.We’re so happy that they won, and they brought a gold medal back and that, you know, I said it, the men’s and women’s team both brought gold medals back.So, just unbelievable for USA hockey.”

Hughes, who scored the game-winning overtime goal against Canada to win gold, reflected on his interaction with the player on the U.S.women’s team who did the same, Megan Keller.

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“Me and her had a great moment in the cafeteria after her gold medal game.We played Slovakia the next night, and it was like a late game.And we were in the pasta line — me and Megan.They were just getting ready to go out again, and I just gave her a massive hug, and I said, ‘I’m so happy for you.I’m so proud of you,'” Hughes said. 

“A couple nights later, saw her again in the [cafeteria], and we took a great picture and, uh, she just gave me a big hug and was so pumped for me as well.” 

Hughes told reportersafter the game the first thing he thought about when the puck went in was Keller, who scored the golden goal for the United States women’s team against Canada three days earlier.

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The controversy surrounding the men’s team stemmed from alocker room phone callbetween the players and Trump right after their gold medal win over Canada. 

Trump told the men’s team after inviting them to Tuesday’sState of the Unionaddress that he’d “have” to invite the women’s team, otherwise “I probably would be impeached.” The team laughed in response, prompting immense backlash. 

Several mainstream media outlets penned op-eds condemning the men’s team for laughing at the joke and then visiting the White House to celebrate and Trump’s State of the Union address. 

The United States’ Jack Hughes (86), who scored the winning overtime goal, celebrates after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy Feb.22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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U.S.women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight said on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” thatTrump’s “distasteful joke”has “overshadow[ed]” the women’s success.

“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,” Knight said.

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

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Hughes’ mother, Ellen,a former Team USA player and current player development staff member, said the players only cared about “bring[ing] so much unity to a group and to a country.”

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Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.