Overview
- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called portrayals of the viral locker‑room moment "unfortunate and not accurate," saying the men had no intention of slighting the women and that both teams celebrated each other with "two for two" chants.
- The controversy stems from President Donald Trump joking he could be impeached if he failed to invite the women’s team, with video showing some male players laughing as several later expressed regret for their reactions.
- Charles Barkley criticized the backlash on his Steam Room podcast, saying he is not a Trump supporter yet would visit the White House out of respect for the office and urging people to stop politicizing the teams’ celebrations.
- Most of the men’s squad visited the White House and attended the State of the Union on Feb. 24, while the women declined the last‑minute invitation due to logistics and have not announced a separate visit.
- Coverage also noted FBI Director Kash Patel’s presence in the men’s locker room and referenced an AI‑doctored video that added to scrutiny as players fielded questions about the episode.