Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal against Canada in the Winter Olympics hockey final, tried to chill outrage against the team and President Donald Trump for their exchange about the champion U.S. women’s squad.

“Everything is so political,” he told the Daily Mail at a victory party in Miami.

The women turned down Trump’s patronizing invite to join the men at the State of the Union address and the White House, citing time conflicts in an achingly diplomatic statement from USA Hockey.

“They’ve got busy schedules, too,” Hughes said to the tabloid. “Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today. People are so negative out there, and they are just trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing.”

The women’s team also captured gold against Canada in a dramatic overtime days earlier in Milan but was insulted by Trump in his congratulatory phone call to the men’s team where he proffered the invite.

“And we have to — I must tell you — we’re going to have to bring the women’s team,” the president said to laughter from the players. ”[If I don’t] do that, I do believe I probably would be impeached, OK?”

USA Hockey declined on the women’s behalf. “We ... deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” the statement went.

But the dismissive reaction of Trump and the players generated criticism online, and even calls for the U.S. men’s team to reject the White House offer.

Hughes insisted all was well between the men’s team and the women’s team.

“I think we are so tight with their group,” he told the tabloid. “After we won the gold medal, we were in the cafeteria at 3:30 a.m. in the morning with them, and we go from there, pack our bags and we’re on the bus.”

“People are so negative about things,” he continued. “I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them and we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us.”

Hughes, who plays for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL, wasn’t apologizing for visiting Trump.

“We’re athletes,” he said to the Daily Mail. “We’re so proud to represent the U.S., and when you get the chance to go to the White House and meet the president, we’re proud to be Americans and that’s so patriotic. ”

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