Jack and Quinn Hughes’ mom goes national powerful backup of Team USA on Today Show

Hughes, mother of Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes and a player development consultant for Team USA’s women’s squad, appeared on the Today to defend her sons and both U.S. national teams amid growing social media backlash.

The controversy erupted after members of the men’s team were criticised online for laughing during jokes made by Donald Trump about the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team.

Hughes strongly pushed back on the criticism, emphasizing unity over politics.

“These players — both the men and the women — bring people together,” she said. “People who don’t normally watch hockey, people from different political backgrounds — that’s what both teams care about. They care about unity and about representing their country.”

She also highlighted what she described as the strong bond between the men’s and women’s squads during the tournament in Milano, pointing to shared spaces, camaraderie and mutual support throughout the Games.

“If you could see what we see from the inside — the dorms, the hallways, the way the women cheered for the men and the men cheered for the women — that’s what it’s all about,” Hughes explained. “They can’t control everything around them. What they care about is humanity, unity and representing their country the right way.”

Both American teams went undefeated en route to gold, a storyline Hughes described as unforgettable.

“We couldn’t have written a better script,” she said. “I just hope people understand what both teams accomplished and how they brought the country together in that moment.”

Meanwhile, Jack Hughes addressed the online criticism himself, suggesting the situation had been amplified beyond what it warranted.

“People are so negative out there,” he said. “They’re trying to find reasons to put people down and make something out of almost nothing.”

The controversy has since widened following reports that Kash Patel travelled to Milano to celebrate with the team after their victory, drawing scrutiny over the optics and cost of the trip. Patel defended his presence on social media, stating he was “humbled” to celebrate with the gold medalists.

However, some critics argue that his involvement shifted attention away from the players’ achievements and toward political debate.

For many supporters, that is the most frustrating element of the situation: a historic, undefeated gold medal run by both U.S. teams now risks being overshadowed by controversy far removed from the ice.

Regardless of the surrounding noise, the performances in Milano were emphatic. Team USA delivered under pressure and captured gold — an accomplishment that, as Ellen Hughes stressed, was meant to unite rather than divide.