Mother of Hughes brothers responds to SOTU controversy after Trump’s comments

After President Donald Trump called the men’s Olympic hockey team to congratulate them on their gold medal, he drew criticism for what some saw as disrespect for the women’s team that suffered the same fate.

Three days before Jack Hughes’ gold medal, Megan Keller did the same thing for Canada in the women’s gold medal match.

Trump told the men’s delegation after inviting them to the State of the Union on Tuesday that he would “have to” invite the women’s delegation, otherwise “I’ll probably be impeached.”

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Hughes’ mother, Ellen, who is a player development consultant for Team USA Women’s hockey, was not bothered by Trump’s comments.

“These players, men and women, can bring great unity to the team and the country,” he told “Today.” “People who enjoy that don’t watch hockey, people who have politics on one side or the other, and that’s all the men’s team and the women’s team care about.”

“If you could see what we see inside, the men and women sharing, you know, the bedrooms and the halls and the soft floors and the meeting and the meeting and the way the women were congratulating the men and the way the men were congratulating the women – it’s all this,” he continued. “There are other things they can’t control. They care about humanity. They care about unity, and they care about the country.”

Team USA’s Megan Keller (5) warms up before the Women’s Group A Open match between the United States and Czechia on Day 1 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 5, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Hughes’ brother Quinn, who scored an extra-time goal against Sweden last week, said it was “amazing to spend time” with the women’s team at the Olympic venue.

“And it’s obvious that they watched, Jack and I were there, they watched us win the gold medal. They came to our game and were able to watch us,” he said. “So the support back and forth, just to get to know them better was special, too.”

The women’s delegation declined an invitation to Washington, DC, citing schedules. Several members of the men’s team will be attending an after party in Miami on Monday.

Brady Tkachuk, Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes attend the USA Men’s Ice Hockey Team’s Olympic Gold Celebration at E11EVEN Miami on Feb. 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)

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The NHL season resumes on Wednesday.

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