American hockey star and Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight has publicly addressed a recent remark by President Donald Trump about the United States women’s team, calling his comment “distasteful” while emphasizing that she prefers to focus on the team’s success and progress.
Knight, a longtime leader and prominent voice in women’s hockey, responded after Trump’s remark drew attention and discussion around how elite women’s athletes are treated and portrayed in public discourse. While she did not go into detail about the full context of the president’s words, Knight was clear about her own reaction. She characterized the comment as disrespectful in tone and not in line with the respect she believes the players have earned through their performance and commitment.
At the same time, Knight stressed that she does not want the conversation around the team to be dominated solely by a political exchange. Instead, she said her priority is to highlight what the group has achieved on the ice and how far women’s hockey has come at the international and professional levels. Knight pointed to the team’s accomplishments, including their gold-medal performances and their role in elevating the visibility of women’s hockey, as the central story she hopes fans keep in mind.
By choosing to frame her response around the team’s achievements, Knight reinforced a theme that has defined much of her career: using moments of controversy or criticism to redirect attention toward growth, opportunity, and respect for women’s sports. She has been a key figure in efforts to expand support for women’s hockey, advocating for better resources, recognition, and coverage for female players.
Knight’s comments also underscore a broader conversation about the way high-profile leaders talk about women’s teams and the impact those statements can have. While she labeled Trump’s remark as “distasteful,” she declined to dwell on it, reiterating that her focus remains on celebrating her teammates, their gold-medal success, and the continuing development of the women’s game. In doing so, Knight highlighted the resilience of the athletes and their determination to keep the spotlight on their hard-earned accomplishments rather than on critical or dismissive commentary from outside the locker room.
