Dylan Strome didn’t even participate in the Winter Olympics, yet he and his family found themselves in the middle of the raging debate surrounding President Donald Trump and the U.S. hockey teams.
The Capitals star’s wife, Tayler, lashed out after the NHL posted — and since deleted — a photo of Strome with one of his daughters on social media in the aftermath of Trump joking to the gold-medal-winning men’s team that he would have to also invite the champion women’s team to the White House or risk being impeached, which generated laughter from the men’s squad.
“We were placed into a narrative that we have absolutely nothing to do with, and we certainly did not choose to have our family used in it,” Tayler posted to her Instagram Story earlier this week. “You can debate adults all you want, but dragging my husband and especially my toddler into something that has nothing to do with us is beyond unacceptable.
“The comments and messages about my TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER are some of the most vile and disgusting things I have ever read in my life. This isn’t about politics. She is a child. Full stop. Do better. & to everyone who has reached out or addressed this situation with more than a single brain cell, thank you.”
The NHL has highlighted Strome as a girl dad before, including last May in an X post celebrating the couple announcing they would be welcoming a third girl to their family, but it’s seemingly the timing of this recently deleted post that generated unwanted attention toward the Strome family.
Many are upset with the Team USA men for how the group reacted when Trump spoke about including the women’s team while congratulating the men for their overtime win over Canada on Sunday.
“We’ll just have some fun, we have medals for you guys,” Trump said. “I must tell you, we have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.”
He then added about what would happen if he did not invite the women: “I do believe I probably would be impeached, OK.”
The women declined the invite, citing scheduling reasons, while the men visited the White House and then attended the State of the Union on Tuesday.
Along the way, the NHL posted the photo of Strome with his daughter, Eme, while at Walt Disney World, as captured by People.
The post even had some believing Dylan had participated with Team USA, per People, when he actually is from Canada.
The drama has led to the members of the men’s team repeatedly being asked about their reaction to Trump’s remark and becoming part of the heated political debate in the country.
Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman admitted the men made a mistake.
“We should’ve reacted differently,” Swayman told reporters.
“We know that we are so excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team. To share that gold medal with them is something we’re forever grateful for.”
Jack Hughes, who scored the golden goal in Milan, would not go that far, saying, “It is what it is.”
“During the moment, the President calls, we’re blaring the music, like they pause the music and then the President calls, so,” Hughes said Wednesday night.
“It is what it is now, but we have so much respect for the women’s, they have so much respect for us, we’re all just proud Americans and we’re happy we both swept the Olympics.”