Team USA hockey hero Jack Hughes has offered a surprising defense of the women’s team after they declined Donald Trump‘s invitation to the White House.
Speaking in Miami Monday, Hughes – who became a global superstar for scoring the winning goal victory while bleeding from the loss of two front teeth – told the Daily Mail: ‘They’ve got busy schedules, too. Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today.
‘People are so negative out there and they are just trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing.
‘Our relationship with them, over the course of being in the Athletes’ Village, I think we are so tight with their group.
‘After we won the gold medal, we were in the cafeteria at 3.30am in the morning with them and we go from there, pack our bags and we’re on the bus.
‘People are so negative about things. I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them and we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us.’
Trump called the men’s team on Sunday after their stunning 2-1 overtime win over Canada at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. He joked that he would ‘be impeached’ if he did not invite the women’s team as well, who also took home gold at the Games.
Hughes was hailed for his patriotic speech – and for continuing to play despite suffering an injury that shattered two of his front teeth and left him bleeding onto the ice. He ended up scoring the winning goal.
The victorious men’s team accepted the president’s invitation to Tuesday’s State of the Union speech, as well as a private tour of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Team USA hockey hero Jack Hughes has slammed ‘negative’ criticism of the gold medalists
The USA women’s team rejected Donald Trump’s invite to join the men in Washington DC
Asked by the Daily Mail whether they are excited for their trip to meet Trump, Hughes added: ‘Yeah, we’re excited. Everything is so political. We’re athletes.
‘We’re so proud to represent the US and when you get the chance to go to White House and meet the President, we’re proud to be Americans and that’s so patriotic.
‘No matter what your views are, we’re super excited to go to the White House tomorrow and be a part of that.’
When the women’s team turned down Trump’s offer to join their male counterparts, a USA hockey spokesman was quoted as saying by NBC: ‘We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning US women’s hockey team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement.
‘They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.’
They will not be attending, however, ‘due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments’.
Trump sparked fury by joking he’d ‘be impeached’ if he didn’t invite the women’s team to DC
Hughes scored the winning goal against Canada to end 46 years of hockey hurt for America
Kash Patel was in Milan for Sunday’s final and he headed into the locker room to join in the celebrations, with a video appearing to show the FBI director chugging a beer and partying with the players.
Hughes scored the winning goal in overtime to beat Canada and gave an emotional and patriotic interview moments after clinching gold.
‘This is all about our country right now,’ he said. ‘This is all about our country. I love the USA. I love my teammates… I’m so proud to be an American today.
‘That’s a great Canadian team, but we’re USA, we’re so proud to be Americans, tonight was all for the country.
‘It’s everything, the USA hockey brotherhood means so much, we’re such a team, we’ve been together for two weeks, but we’re such a team.
‘The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong, and we’re so proud to win for our country.’
The footage caught the attention of the Vice President, who praised Hughes for his message and for also talking despite losing teeth on the ice during the game.
JD Vance wrote on X: ‘Heart full of pride for his country and a few front teeth gone missing.
‘That’s American hockey right there. Congratulations to Jack and everyone on Team USA for bringing home the gold.’
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