During his opening monologue on trump-iran-strikes-epstein-b2929632.html”>Saturday Night Live, actor Connor Storrie surprised the audience by bringing out players from both the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams, fresh off their twin Olympic victories.
At one point, members of the women’s team took a playful jab at the men’s team, who recently visited President Donald Trump at the White House.
Storrie, the 26-year-old Heated Rivalry star, began the segment by discussing his hit HBO show, which has garnered millions of views.
“Now, some of you may have seen all of me on my show Heated Rivalry,” he joked. “It’s a show that’s taught a lot of people about hockey, and it’s taught a lot of straight women that their sexuality is actually gay man.”
He then brought out Quinn and Jack Hughes from the men’s hockey team, and Megan Keller and Hilary Knight from the women’s team, triggering cheers from the audience. All four players were decked out in Team USA jerseys and their gold medals.
“It was going to be just us but we thought we’d invite the guys, too,” Knight said. “Yeah, we thought we’d give them a little moment to shine,” Keller added.
The comments appeared to be a not-so-subtle response to Trump’s joke about the women’s team that has sparked controversy and threatened to overshadow the teams’ historic victories in Italy.
Following the men’s team’s sudden death win over Canada — earning them their first gold medal since 1980 — the president called the players to congratulate them. During the call, he invited the team to the White House, but noted, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” Otherwise, he said, he’d risk being impeached.
This comment prompted laughter from the players, who were drinking beer in a locker room with FBI Director Kash Patel, video footage shows.
Soon after Trump’s comments, the men’s team visited the White House — and some attended his State of the Union address — while the women’s team declined the president’s invitation, citing existing commitments. Trump later said that he would meet with the women’s team “soon.”
Some of the players on the women’s team have responded publicly to Trump’s joke, with Knight describing it as “distasteful,” while acknowledging that her male counterparts were “in a tough spot.”
At least one member of the men’s team has expressed regret about how the call with the president went.
“We should’ve reacted differently,” Team USA player and Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman told reporters Wednesday. “We have so much respect for the women’s team, and to share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for.”
