This past weekend, the United States returned home with a haul of hardware from Milan and Cortina, Italy, bringing back 12 gold, 11 silver, and 9 bronze medals for a total of 32 medals. The two notable wins come from the USA women’s and men’s hockey teams. For the women’s team, this marks their third gold medal and overall fourth medal at the Winter Olympics. For the men’s team, this marks their third gold and overall 12th. However, these incredible celebrations and accomplishments quickly turned into misogyny and disgust.
In a time of such horror and hate for the United States, the 2026 Olympics were supposed to be a time of celebration for those competing and for the athletes themselves to celebrate amongst each other. Turns out this was quite the opposite. In 2026, we are still discrediting female athletics at every level. It is unbelievable that it has even come to the point that we are down playing olympic athletes.
After the USA men’s hockey team beat Canada to win gold at the Olympics, they were found celebrating in their locker room with FBI director Kash Patel. There is video footage of him chugging a beer and being handed one of the gold medals. Kash Patel has done everything in his power to be a cover-up for the biggest sex-trafficking case and protect pedophiles. Patel spent over $75,000 in taxpayer dollars to go to the Olympics and party with the USA men’s hockey team. This is not the first instance of something like this occurring with Patel.
As part of this “celebration,” Kash Patel calls up Donald Trump to give him the inside look at the USA men’s hockey gold medalists. On the phone, Trump invites the team to the White House to celebrate and makes this unnecessary comment, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that? I do believe I would probably be impeached.” These women had also won a gold medal like the men’s team; however, they were ridiculed and mocked by the president. The USA women’s hockey team politely declined the invitation to the White House. This is honestly disgusting and just sad because this does not leave a good impression for future Olympians and young female athletes. This phone call truly revealed quite a lot about the USA men’s hockey team and their overall message towards the USA women’s hockey team.
Some members of the USA men’s hockey team tried to come forward and say not to politicize this and that they are just athletes. Many have also come forward to show their respect for the USA women’s hockey team. Members of the USA women’s hockey team have responded to this comment made by Trump and reactions from the men’s team. Hilary Knight from the women’s team spoke out, saying, “The joke was distasteful and unfortunate…Now I have to sit in front of you…and explain someone else’s behavior. It’s not my responsibility.” To have such an amazing accomplishment for Team USA and women’s sports be rudely commented on is extremely upsetting, and unfortunate that we are still combating comments like these.