Dylan Strome didn’t participate in the Winter Olympics, yet he and his family found themselves at the center of a heated discussion regarding President Donald Trump and the U.S. hockey team.
His wife, Taylor, expressed frustration online after a now-deleted post came out shortly after Trump quipped that the men’s team might face impeachment if they didn’t also invite the women’s team to the White House. This comment coincided with a photo of Strome and one of their daughters, which ended up amplifying the men’s team’s laughter.
“We were pulled into a story that has nothing to do with us. We never intended for our family to be involved in this,” Taylor shared on her Instagram story earlier this week. “Sure, we can debate with adults all day, but dragging my husband—and especially our little girl—into this is just not okay.”
She continued, “The things I’ve read about my 2-year-old daughter are some of the most hurtful and disgusting I’ve ever encountered. This isn’t about politics; she’s a child. Please, just stop. Thank you to those who have approached this situation with kindness and understanding.”
The NHL had earlier recognized Strome as the father of the girl, including a post celebrating their engagement last May. Yet, the recent post’s timing seems to have drawn unnecessary attention to their family.
There’s been considerable backlash directed at the men’s team following Trump’s remarks about a potential invitation to the women’s team after congratulating the men on their recent overtime win over Canada.
Trump mentioned, “We’re just here to have a good time. You’ve got medals.” He went on to say, “And we need to bring the girls’ team, you all know that.”
He added that if the women were not invited, “I believe they would probably be impeached.”
Despite the invitation, the women declined due to scheduling issues, while the men attended the White House and participated in a subsequent State of the Union address.
The NHL shared a picture of Strome and his daughter Emme at Walt Disney World, which may have been misconstrued by some, leading them to believe Strome was part of Team USA when he is actually from Canada.
Amid the unfolding drama, players from the men’s team faced numerous questions about their reactions to the President’s comments, becoming entangled in a broader political debate.
Jeremy Swayman, Bruins goaltender, admitted the players could have handled things better.
“I should have reacted differently,” he told reporters. “We really admire the women’s team. Sharing the gold medal with them is something we’ll always cherish.”
Jack Hughes, who scored the gold medal-winning goal, wasn’t as apologetic, stating simply, “That’s just how it is.”
He added, “When the president calls, we turn down the music. But we have a lot of respect for the women’s team, and we’re proud to be Americans. Winning the Olympics is a shared joy.”
