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Sara Eisen sparked heated debate on ‘The View’ this afternoon. The CNBC anchor ignited controversy by calling President Trump’s comment about the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team a “celebratory joke,” putting her at odds with co-hosts on February 26.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Trump’s Remark: “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team” to the White House, or he’d be impeached.
- Team Decline: U.S. women’s gold medalists declined SOTU invitation citing scheduling conflicts.
- Eisen’s Take: Called it a “celebratory joke” and urged not to politicize the moment.
- Backlash: Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin contested, saying Trump “insulted” the women.
What Trump Actually Said About the Women’s Hockey Team
During a February 22 video call to the U.S. men’s hockey team in their Milan locker room, President Trump extended congratulations for their gold medal victory over Canada. That’s when he pivoted to the women’s squad. “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?” Trump said, receiving laughs from the players. He continued, “I do believe I probably would be impeached” if he didn’t also invite them to the State of the Union.
The remarks went viral instantly. Video footage showed the men’s team laughing at the comment, which later drew criticism. Trump said the women would “soon be coming to the White House” at the actual SOTU address on February 24.
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How the Women’s Team Responded
The U.S. women’s hockey team, fresh off their own gold medal triumph over Canada, ultimately declined the White House invitation. Their official statement cited “timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games.” Privately, team leadership suggested the Trump joke contributed to their decision. Captain Hilary Knight, 36, called the comment “distasteful” and said it was “overshadowing a lot of the success.”
Knight emphasized in multiple interviews that the women earned their achievements legitimately and deserve recognition independent of male athletes. “Women aren’t less than, and their achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything,” she stated on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”
Sara Eisen’s Hot Take Divides ‘The View’ Panel
Appearing as guest host on Thursday’s episode, Eisen took a notably different stance from her View co-hosts. “I was watching that final with 26 million other people, and it was a unifying moment for America,” she said, defending the Olympic atmosphere. The CNBC reporter acknowledged Eisen agreeing that FBI Director Kash Patel celebrating exclusively with the men’s team “was a terrible look.” However, she insisted the women were invited and shouldn’t politicize the moment. “We shouldn’t politicize everything,” Eisen emphasized.
| Panelist | Position |
| Sara Eisen | “Celebratory joke,” don’t politicize |
| Joy Behar | Trump “insulted” women, it was wrong |
| Sunny Hostin | Stop giving Trump a pass on misconduct |
| Sara Haines | Women fought to earn recognition |
“It was a celebratory joke. I don’t know. I’m not going to excuse that, but we shouldn’t politicize everything.”
— Sara Eisen, CNBC Anchor and ‘The View’ Guest Host
Male Hockey Players Defend Their Female Counterparts
Not all of the men’s hockey team stayed silent. Jack Hughes, who scored the gold medal winning goal, said the team “should have reacted differently.” Speaking on Good Morning America, Hughes explained, “People are so negative about things. Everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them.” Backup goalie Jeremy Swayman was more direct, calling it a “distasteful joke” that overshadowed women’s achievements. The moment created tension despite the men’s team receiving Presidential Medals of Freedom from Trump.
Will This Olympic Moment Spark Lasting Change in Sports Coverage?
The controversy highlights a deeper issue in American sports: coverage imbalance between men’s and women’s athletics. The 2026 Winter Olympics saw women earn 21 of 33 total U.S. medals, yet the moment became defined by a political joke rather than athletic excellence. Sara Haines pointed out that women’s sports programs remain chronically underfunded despite rising talent and viewership. The men’s hockey final drew 26 million viewers, proving audiences crave women’s Olympic competition. Can the industry finally match investment and respect to demand?
Sources
- Decider – ‘The View’ debate over Trump’s remarks on women’s hockey team featuring guest host Sara Eisen
- USA Today – Trump’s controversial phone call comments about U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team
- ESPN – Hilary Knight’s response and analysis of Trump’s distasteful joke about women’s team
