Hilary Knight’s Right: Not Her Responsibility to Explain Trump’s Joke

The victorious U.S. women’s hockey team had nothing to do with President Donald Trump’s postgame comments to the men’s hockey team, or whether the men’s team reacted appropriately. So why are the women being dragged into the latest chapter of the culture wars?

That’s my question as the media continues to melt down post-Winter Olympics. Instead of focusing on the women winning their third gold medal or their clutch play, the women have to answer for Trump’s actions and the ensuing media reaction.

You can tell their patience is wearing thin. I thought team captain Hilary Knight handled the issue perfectly during a press conference when asked about the president’s “we’re going to have to bring the women’s team” joke to the men on Sunday. 

“I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate. I think the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point to really shine light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats. Now I have to sort of sit in front of you…and explain someone else’s behavior. It’s not my responsibility,” she said during a press conference organized by the PWHL’s Seattle Torrent.

Knight then tried, in her words, to “shift the narrative” back to Team USA’s on-ice achievements in Milan, as well as the men’s and women’s teams winning gold the same year for the first time.

“These women are amazing,” she noted. “Whatever’s going on should never outshine or minimize their work, or our success, on the world stage. This was the best American women’s hockey team, the best American team we’ve ever put together on a world stage when the lights have been the brightest. Ever.” 

Bingo. Spot on. 

Knight’s not responsible for everything somebody says. She firmly called out a joke made in poor taste. But instead of escalating the situation, she’s rightly trying to shift the media’s focus back to celebrating her team’s historic accomplishments in Milan.

After all, Knight scored the tying goal with only two minutes left in regulation during Team USA’s comeback 2-1 win over Canada. Their overtime win in the gold medal game was just as thrilling as the men’s 2-1 win. The powerful women’s team went undefeated during the Olympics, outscoring their opponents 33-2. Knight herself emerged from the Milan Cortina Winter Games as the all-time leading Olympic scorer in women’s hockey history. So there’s plenty for the media to talk about—if they choose to put the focus back on hockey. 

It, of course, didn’t help that President Trump revealed at his State of the Union address that the women’s team will soon be visiting the White House — a trip the team itself has yet to commit to. Nonetheless, the captain’s refusal to let herself and her teammates become pawns in the culture wars drew praise across social media.

Brett Ghiroli of The Athletic called it a “master class on how to answer” on X/Twitter. 

After days of furious coverage, Hockey News editor Ian Kennedy tweeted it’s time to get back to the game. 

“Captain Hilary Knight spoke of the ‘distasteful’ joke made by President Donald Trump,” he wrote. “But as she says, it’s now time to turn the focus back on women’s hockey, and the incredible athletes set to restart their PWHL seasons.”

With the Olympics now over, members of the Team USA women’s roster will return to their respective PWHL and college seasons, keeping their focus on hockey, just as they have this entire time. Now it’s time to see if the fulminating media will follow suit.