(Gray News) — The U.S. men’s hockey team is receiving criticism for conversations in the locker room after winning the gold medal at the Olympics.
Team USA won gold in an overtime victory against Canada Sunday. It was the first time the U.S. won gold in men’s hockey since 1980.
FBI Director Kash Patel joined the hockey players in the locker room to celebrate their win.
While Patel’s appearance alone stirred controversy, the criticism did not stop there. In videos shared on social media, Patel was seen calling President Donald Trump and putting him on speakerphone to speak with the team.
Team USA poses for a group photo after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)(Luca Bruno | AP)
“I just told my people … I said, we’re giving the State of the Union speech Tuesday night … if you would like to, it’s the coolest night,” Trump said on the call, implying he was inviting the team to the speech.
“We’re in!” several of the hockey players said.
“Thank you Mr. President,” another shouted.
“What would really be cool, and we’ll do the White House next time, we’ll just have some fun, we have medals for you guys. And we have to, I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?” Trump said with a laugh.
The team erupted in laughter.
“I do believe that I would probably be impeached [if the women’s team was not invited],” Trump said.
The U.S. women’s hockey team also won the gold medal at the Olympics.
Team United States players pose together after receiving their gold medals after the women’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)(Carolyn Kaster | AP)
Trump continued to praise the team for their success at the Olympics before ending the call.
The video has drawn criticism on social media.
“All of them laughing about inviting the women’s team. Every single one of them,” one person wrote.
“Women’s sports will always be a punchline to them no matter how much phony lip service they pay,” another wrote.
“So disappointed. Nothing but love & solidarity with our sisters,” another wrote.
Jessica Luther, an investigative journalist and author of books on sports and gender, called the conversation “painful.”
“In the video of Trump talking to the US men’s hockey team, when he says, ‘I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that’ as a joke about how annoying it is to have women around, the most painful part for me, are all the hockey players laughing. Actually laughing,” Luther posted on Bluesky.
More videos from the locker room showed Patel drinking beer from a bottle and spraying the rest around the room. After one of the players draped his gold medal around Patel’s neck, Patel joined the players as they jumped up and down.
“There was a threat at the president’s residence at [Mar-a-Lago], Americans in Mexico are facing major threats by cartel members, Nancy Guthrie is still missing, and our FBI Director thinks he’s a frat bro?!” Xochitl Hinojosa, spokeswoman for former Attorney General Merrick Garland, said on X.
Patel responded to the criticism by posting that he was “extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys.”
According to the Associated Press, the FBI director had defended his official trip to Italy by saying he was going to meet with Italian law enforcement officials and Americans helping to provide security at the Olympics.
He posted pictures this week of his visit to the Milan Joint Operations Center, which he said was charged with protecting the security of American athletes and all those who traveled to Milan for the Winter Games. He also posted a photo of his meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Italy.
The U.S. women’s hockey team has declined Trump’s invitation to attend the State of the Union address Tuesday. It’s unclear whether they will attend any future events at the White House.
“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,” a USA Hockey spokesperson told NBC News. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.”
Copyright 2026 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.