The political turmoil currently shaking the United States was also reflected in the Winter Olympic Games held in Milan Cortina. Since the start of the competition, several American athletes have not hesitated to use the Olympics as a platform to criticize the measures of the Trump administration.

Published on: 02/12/2026 - 08:18

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics have transformed in just a few days into a clash between American athletes and US President Donald Trump, with several competitors expressing criticism of his administration.

Since 2021, Article 50 of the Olympic Charter prohibits any gesture of a political nature on the medalists' podium, but athletes are allowed to express their opinions during press conferences and on social networks. The ire of several competitors at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy is linked to the Trump administration's immigration policies, and in particular the tactics employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The deaths of two protesters, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, shot dead by federal agents in Minneapolis last month, sparked outrage in the United States.

Read alsoWinter Games in Milan: the ICE division will not patrol Italy

“Fuck ICE”

British freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, silver medalist at the 2014 Olympic Games for the United States, but who now represents his native country, launched hostilities on February 4 by shouting "Fuck ICE" written on the snow, in reference to the American federal immigration police, whose methods are as violent as they are criticized. “Innocent people have been killed, and enough is enough. We cannot stand idly by while ICE continues to operate with unchecked power,” he wrote in a post on his Instagram account.

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Since the publication of this photo, the skier, who also has an American passport, claims to have received numerous messages of support, but also death threats. “People who tell me to kill myself, who threaten me, who want to see me seriously injure my knee or break my neck during my ordeal, who insult me… It’s crazy,” he said in a video on Instagram. “I think it’s important to say what we feel and take action against injustice. I was very proud to see other athletes take a stand.”

Several American athletes have criticized Donald Trump. Freestyle skier Hunter Hess even attracted the wrath of the White House tenant after expressing his "mixed emotions" at the idea of ​​representing the United States, during a press conference on February 4 on the sidelines of the Milan Cortina Olympics. "It's a little difficult. There's obviously a lot of things going on that I'm not a big fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't," he said, without directly mentioning the crisis triggered by the anti-immigration offensive launched by Donald Trump's administration or the tensions on the international scene. “Just because I wear a flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s happening in the United States,” he added.

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In response, Donald Trump called him a "failure" on his Truth Social network on Sunday, saying he does not represent his country during the current Olympic Games. If that's the case, he shouldn't have tried to join the team and it's a shame he's part of it."

US Vice President JD Vance, who represented the United States at Friday's opening ceremony in Milan and was booed when his face appeared briefly on the giant screens at the San Siro stadium, also reprimanded athletes who expressed political views and urged them to stick to sport. He insisted during a trip to Baku, Azerbaijan on Wednesday: "You are there to play sport. You are there to represent your country and, if all goes well, to win a medal. You are not there to talk politics." He also encouraged them “not to show up in a foreign country and attack the president.”

Many positions taken

Faced with these attacks, members of the American team supported Hunter Hess. “I think what Hunter said was perfectly correct, not provocative, and did not create any big problem,” said American cross-country skier Ben Ogden, silver medalist in the sprint, on Tuesday. “I would like to believe that I live in a country where you have the right to express your opinions without the president attacking you. But apparently not,” he continued.

Hunter Hess also received support from American snowboarding superstar Chloe Kim, who called for more "love and compassion" in response to Trump's attacks. “I think in times like this it's really important to come together and support each other, given everything that's going on, and I'm very proud to represent the United States,” she said at a U.S. Snowboard Team news conference in Livigno.

In a post on Instagram published before her departure for the Olympics, the champion of South Korean origin also insisted on the fact that she "represents [her] country, but also those who took the plunge, who came to this magnificent nation carrying hope, dreams and courage. I am proud of my heritage. I am proud of my journey. And I am proud to represent a country which is strongest when it celebrates diversity, dignity and hope".

American figure skater Amber Glenn, team gold medalist at the Olympics on Sunday, also used media coverage of the Olympics to say that she felt "this administration has been particularly difficult for the LGBTQ+ community in general." The athlete, who identifies as pansexual and bisexual, took issue with the comments of those who questioned the legitimacy of athletes to express their opinions: "I know a lot of people say: 'You're just an athlete, mind your work, shut up about politics', but politics affects us all."

The 26-year-old has since admitted that she had to take a several-day break from social media. “When I chose to use one of the greatest assets of the United States of America (freedom of speech) to express how I feel as an athlete representing Team USA during a difficult time for many Americans, I received a frightening amount of hate and threats for simply using my voice when asked how I feel,” she wrote in a story.

Other champions, however, were less direct. Mikaela Shiffrin, the most successful alpine skier in World Cup history, said she simply had "a few thoughts" when asked how she felt about representing the United States at a time when the country is deeply divided politically.

The 30-year-old, who is aiming for another Olympic gold medal, quoted Nelson Mandela, a phrase already used by Oscar-winning South African actress Charlize Theron during the opening ceremony on Friday: "Peace is not just the absence of conflict. Peace is the creation of an environment where everyone can flourish, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, social class, caste or any other social marker of difference. The skier said those words resonated with her. "For me, it has a connection with the Olympic Games. I really hope to participate and represent my own values: the values ​​of inclusion, diversity and kindness."

A CIO who does not take sides

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to get involved in this matter, particularly when asked about Donald Trump's comments regarding Hunter Hess. “I'm not going to fuel the debate, because I don't think it's constructive to make things worse in this way,” Mark Adams, IOC spokesperson, said on Monday.

For its part, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) said in a statement that it monitors social media and reports threats against its athletes: “No athlete should have to face this alone.” Refraining from commenting on any specific athlete or incident, the USOPC said only that "mental health and safety resources are available 24/7 for Team USA athletes, and we encourage them to contact us whenever they need support."

Certain American spectators present at the figure skating events at the Milan Olympic Games were in any case not afraid to take part in the debate. They wanted to send a message to the whole world by waving a flag in front of television cameras. One side read: “Go Team USA!” and on the other: "We apologize to the world for our bad behavior. We will improve."

With AFP, Reuters and AP

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