US ice hockey captain on canceled Trump visit: “I thought it was a tasteless joke”

Donald Trump’s comments have caused dissatisfaction among US ice hockey heroines. Captain Hilary Knight regretted the US President’s behavior. “I thought it was a distasteful joke that unfortunately overshadows a lot of the success of women in the Olympics, competing for Team USA and doing amazing gold medal performances,” two-time Olympian Knight said on an ESPN broadcast.

Trump invited the team after the US men’s triumph in the final over Canada (2:1 n.V.) and joked that he now had to bring the women’s team along too. “Otherwise I would probably be removed from office,” said the 79-year-old during a phone call over loudspeaker. The women had previously celebrated their Olympic victory after a 2-1 win over Canada.

“Women are no less worthy, and their achievements should not be overshadowed by anything other than how great they are,” said Knight, 36. The controversy could now serve as a “really good learning point” to “really focus on how we talk about women, not just in sports, but across the economy.”

The women’s team did not accept Trump’s apparently not entirely casual invitation to the State of the Union address in Washington – officially for scheduling reasons. They were “very grateful for the invitation” and greatly appreciated the recognition of the “extraordinary achievement,” it said in a statement.

The men, who won their first gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice” in Lake Placid in 1980, largely accepted Trump’s invitation. The US President welcomed the team in the Oval Office. Goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck, who shone with 41 saves in the final, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest civilian honor in the United States.