Propaganda on the Ice
The privilege of getting to exist as a “not political” athelete.
“The joke was distasteful & unfortunate— Now I have to sit in front of you and explain someone else’s behavior. It’s not my responsibility… ” -Hilary Knight, Team Captain for the US women’s hockey team.
“We’re excited. Everything is so political. We’re athletes. We’re so proud to represent the US, and when you get the chance to go to White House and meet the president. We’re proud to be Americans and that’s so patriotic. No matter what your views are, we’re super excited to go to the White House tomorrow and be a part of that.” -Jack Hughes, player for the U.S. men’s hockey team.
Well, I guess I published my newsletter about sports and the Olympics too soon because thanks to Donald Trump, Kash Patel, and the U.S. men’s hockey team, we have to talk about it again.
This week, the men’s hockey team visited the White House as special guests of President Trump and accompanied him to the State of the Union Address as well. Trump issued the invitation immediately after their gold medal victory, while on the phone with the team. Via FBI Director Kash Patel, who was there celebrating in the locker room for some reason. Also on the phone call, Trump commented that he’d have to invite the women’s team, who had won their gold medal a day prior, too, and that he’d be impeached if he weren’t. A so-called joke that got a big laugh from the men in the locker room.
Shockingly, the women’s hockey team didn’t find Trump’s comments funny, nor did they appreciate being asked to respond to Trump’s remark. Unlike the men’s team, the women politely declined Trump’s half-hearted invitation. They had no interest in being used as propaganda tools by the Trump Regime, not that the Regime seemed to want them there anyway. And let’s be clear, the men were props for the Regime, and Trump, who knows the value of a TV visual better than anyone. Trump’s State of the Union address was pro-fascist political theater, and most of the men’s team (five players opted to skip) were more than happy to show up and play a role in it.
This post is available early to paid subscribers now, but I’ll remove the paywall on Tuesday.
