USA’s Brady Tkachuk says team ‘can’t be in control’ of what Trump says
One of the big names on the United States men’s hockey team is responding to the events that occurred following the team’s gold-medal victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
After practice on Thursday, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was asked about the infamous phone conversation between the team and U.S. President Donald Trump.
“I don’t really have an answer,” Tkachuk said. “Honestly, it was just a whirlwind of a moment. You can’t really control what somebody says. It just caught [us] off guard a little bit. When you’re talking to the president 10 minutes after achieving your dream, the fact you’re talking to him, you can really believe where your life’s at…takling to the President of the United States.”
Brady Tkachuk speaks for the 1st time back in Ottawa: On the phone call with the President. "It was just a whirlwind of a moment and you can't really control what somebody says. I guess caught of guard a little bit." #gosensgo
Speaking through the phone of FBI director Kash Patel, who was inappropriately celebrating with the team after Sunday’s final, Trump formally invited the men’s team to the White House and asked them to attend the State of the Union address on Tuesday night. He also went out of his way to inform the team that he would be inviting the women’s team, who also beat Canada to win gold, as well.
“I must tell you,” Trump said. “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that? … I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
The joke was met with some laughter amongst the players in the room, which led to backlash from fans and pundits alike.
When speaking at a Seattle Torrent press conference on Thursday, U.S. women’s captain Hilary Knight called Trump’s remarks “distasteful” and “unfortunate.”
“Just the way women are represented,” Knight explained. “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, and anybody has to sit in front of you and explain someone else’s behavior. It’s not my responsibility.”
USA captain Hilary Knight condemns Donald Trump’s joke, calling it “distasteful” “Just 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, and anybody has to sit Show more
Tkachuk has been in some hot water, as some believed that he was the player who shouted, “Close the northern border,” when speaking to Trump. Tkachuk vehemently denied that he was the one who said that.
“I’ve been seeing stuff that people think it’s me,” Tkachuk said. “But if you watch the video, it’s not my voice and something that I never say…I don’t know how that took a storm on its own…I give everything I have here. I just think that’s something that thought would never pop into my head, especially would never say it.
“It’s crazy when things go on social media, how fast they go…I would never say anything like that.”
Tkachuk, along with brother Matthew, and most of the men’s team did attend the State of the Union on Tuesday. The women’s team was invited by Trump, but declined, “due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”