The U.S. women's hockey team's golden moment at the 2026 Winter Olympics has sparked a political firestorm, with late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel delivering a blistering takedown of former President Donald Trump. The controversy ignited when the newly crowned Olympic champions declined an invitation to attend Trump's State of the Union address, a decision Kimmel heartily endorsed on his show.
A Joke That Backfired
The drama began after both the American men's and women's squads captured thrilling overtime gold medals against Canada. In a congratulatory call to the men's team, Trump made a remark that quickly drew criticism. "We're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that," Trump said, adding, "I do believe I probably would be impeached" if he didn't. Many interpreted the comment as a sexist dismissal of the women's champion athletes.
The women's team responded not with words, but with action, formally turning down the White House invitation the very next day. Kimmel seized on the moment during his Monday night monologue. "What a funny creep, huh?" Kimmel quipped after airing the clip. "The women's hockey team, by the way, immediately refused his invitation. Truly, I mean, can you blame them?"
Reading Between the Lines
Kimmel played a supposedly diplomatic statement from a team spokesperson, which expressed honor at the invitation but cited a scheduling conflict preventing their attendance at the speech. The comedian, however, offered his own translation of the polite refusal. "Which is a nice way of saying, 'Puck off, Trump,'" Kimmel surmised, drawing laughter from his studio audience.
The host didn't stop there. He also mocked a bizarre AI-generated video that depicted Trump playing alongside the U.S. men's team and physically confronting Canadian players. Dubbing Trump "Blobby Orr," Kimmel questioned the former president's grip on reality. "Here's a question: Do you think he knows that's not actually him?" Kimmel asked. "50/50, right?"
Taxpayer-Funded Victory Lap Draws Ire
Kimmel's critique extended beyond Trump to include FBI Director Kash Patel. Reports revealed that Patel flew on a government jet to Italy to celebrate with the men's Olympic hockey team, a trip estimated to have cost U.S. taxpayers up to $75,000. Kimmel highlighted the hypocrisy, noting Patel had previously criticized his predecessor for much less significant use of FBI aircraft.
"Why he was there, why he needed to be in Italy at all, nobody knows," Kimmel said of Patel's presence. "All we know is that we paid for it. He flew there on the FBI jet, which is especially rich coming from the man who criticized his predecessor, Christopher Wray, for doing far, far less."
The incident underscores how Olympic triumph can quickly become entangled in the nation's political discourse. While the athletes aimed to celebrate a historic victory on the ice, their achievement was swiftly pulled into a broader cultural and political debate, amplified by one of late-night television's most prominent voices.
For now, the U.S. women's hockey team's legacy remains their stunning Olympic gold. But their simple act of declining an invitation has reverberated far beyond the rink, becoming a flashpoint in the ongoing clash between sports, politics, and popular culture.
