Presidential Medal Of Freedom debate surfaces after U.S. men's hockey gold, Trump phone call and locker-room fallout
The viral phone call between President Donald Trump and the U. S. men’s Olympic hockey team, and the teams’ twin golds at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, have left a complicated aftertaste: presidential optics that some say risk politicizing a unifying sports moment. The phrase presidential medal of freedom has entered public discussion as attention shifted from three periods and an overtime of hockey to a sequence of celebrations, jokes and invitations.
Trump phone call, a joked invitation and the video that circulated on Feb. 22
A video of President Donald Trump congratulating the men’s team on the phone circulated on Feb. 22 and captured the president saying, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that, ” then adding that if he did not, “I do believe I probably would be impeached. ” The clip also showed some players laughing at what has been described as a misogynistic joke about the gold-winning women’s hockey team.
Ellen Hughes on camaraderie, Feb. 24 comments and the teams’ Milan success
Ellen Hughes — mother of Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes and a player development consultant for Team USA women’s ice hockey — spoke on Feb. 24 about the relationship between the men’s and women’s squads and called the moment “just about the country. ” She praised the teams’ “synergy, ” saying players share dorm rooms, halls and flex floors and that women cheered on the men and the men cheered on the women.
Both the men’s and women’s teams won gold at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal against Canada in the men’s final, giving the United States its first men’s Olympic hockey gold since 1980, and the women’s team also beat Canada to win gold. Ellen Hughes said, “It couldn’t have gone better, ” and noted both teams went undefeated; she added that watching the women win in overtime was the most nervous she had ever been and that the men took the country to overtime as well.
Women’s team declines a State of the Union invitation; USA Hockey’s Feb. 23 statement
The day after the call video circulated, on Feb. 22, the U. S. women’s team declined an invitation to attend the State of the Union. A USA Hockey spokesperson said on Feb. 23, “We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U. S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement, ” and added, “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. ” The spokesperson also said, “They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment. ”
Locker-room celebration, Miami partying and scrutiny of Kash Patel
In the immediate aftermath of their victory, the men’s team took a customary call from President Donald Trump and celebrated in the locker room with beer-chugging FBI Director Kash Patel. Patel is now under scrutiny for using taxpayer money to fund a sports getaway. After a wild night of partying in Miami following the team’s return from Italy, some members announced plans to step into the House Chamber and make an appearance at the State of the Union.
National unity, diminished goodwill and the argument over optics
For a few hours on Sunday afternoon, many Americans felt a rare unity: strangers high-fived in bars, grownups hugged with wet eyes, and politics and culture wars were momentarily suspended for the length of three heart-stopping periods of hockey and one cathartic overtime. But that widespread celebration is over now, and some of the team’s goodwill has diminished.
Commentators have argued the team did not create the nation’s divide and lacked a shrewd political instinct in stepping early into presidential proximity. The men’s team defeated a seemingly indomitable Canadian squad, and no one can take that gold medal away; yet critics say standing beside a polarizing president carries optics that can normalize him. The critique extends to the idea that such proximity can soften a president’s crude jokes and wash his reputation, reducing the impact of polls that indicate a significant majority of Americans disapprove of his second term. The argument finishes with a reminder that champions have agency in the afterglow of triumph and should be wary of giving it away.
Image and lingering notes
An image from the run of coverage was credited to Alexander Tamargo. Jack and Quinn Hughes appeared by video call shortly after their mother on Feb. 24 and spoke more about the relationship between the men’s and women’s teams, a conversation that has continued as the country balances celebration with questions about public appearances and honors tied to the White House and the Presidential Medal Of Freedom.
