Olympics turn political as US athletes speak out against Trump

A growing number of Olympic athletes competing for the U.S. in this month’s Winter Games are expressing discomfort with representing the country under President Trump’s administration, sparking intense pushback from the president’s supporters and Trump himself. 

Trump attacked U.S. athlete Hunter Hess directly after Hess said he was conflicted about competing for Team USA given the country’s political climate.

“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now. I think it’s a little hard,” Hess, a freestyle skier, told reporters during a recent press conference. “There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.” 

The president in a Truth Social post hours later called Hess a “real loser” and said it is “very hard to root for someone like this” when watching the games. 

Hess’s comments came days after Amber Glenn, an American figure skater, decried the administration’s policies toward people in the LGBTQ community.   

“I hope I can use my voice and this platform to help people stay strong in these hard times,” Glenn said.

Some of Hess’s fellow athletes have come to his defense, such as snowboarding superstar Chloe Kim, whose parents are immigrants and said the issue “hits pretty close to home” for her and other competitors.

“I think in moments like these, it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that’s going on and I think that I’m really proud to represent the United States,” Kim said.

Vice President Vance, who received a smattering of boos from the crowd in Milan when he attended the Games’s opening ceremonies last week, suggested when asked about the back and forth that U.S. athletes who weigh in on political matters open themselves up to criticism.

“You’re not there to pop off about politics,” Vance said. “So when Olympic athletes enter the political arena, they should expect some pushback.” 

But Trump attacking any U.S. athlete, several Democrats argued, crosses a line regarding civility and sends a chilling message to anyone with a major platform in sports, music or entertainment. 

“Who does that? What president in the middle of the Olympics … attacks his own countries athletes? I mean just, d‑‑‑,” Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) exclaimed during an interview with The Hill. “There is nothing more patriotic than questioning your own country when its leadership makes decisions that are so sharply out of line with our values and traditions.” 

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), however, scoffed at the idea that any Olympic athlete would have mixed feelings about representing the U.S. because of Trump’s policies. 

“I think that’s ridiculous. … It’s an honor to get to represent the greatest country in history in the Olympic Games. That makes no sense to me,” Jordan, a former college wrestler, told The Hill. “I haven’t seen some of the things they’ve said, but if they’re disparaging the country while representing it, that makes no sense.”

Extra Points  

• President Trump pardoned a handful of former NFL players Friday, including Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis and Travis Henry, who had been convicted of crimes ranging from drug trafficking to perjury. Trump’s pardon czar, Alice Marie Johnson, wrote in announcing the news, “as football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation.”  
• A judge granted Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a sixth year of eligibility last week, the latest in a slew of star college players who have looked to the courts to seek more playing time at premier colleges instead of opting for the NFL. The NCAA in a statement to The Athletic’s Pete Thamel said the ruling “illustrates the impossible situation created by differing court decisions that serve to undermine rules agreed to by the same NCAA members who later challenge them in court.” It argued the episode underscores how “conflicting court decisions make partnering with Congress essential to provide stability for current and future college athletes.” 
• Days after The Washington Post decided to gut most of its sports department, The Baltimore Banner said it was expanding its sports coverage to include Washington pro teams. Banner Editor-in-Chief Audrey Cooper wrote in a note to staff “at a time when so much pulls communities apart, sports bring us together. The Washington Post’s decision to eliminate its sports section creates an opportunity for us to serve more Marylanders with The Banner’s distinctive mix of fearless accountability reporting, engaging storytelling and sharp analysis.” 

Jocks on The Hill: Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) 

Rep. Rob Wittman, a proud Virginia Tech Hokie, answered some sports questions for The Hill. 

Favorite Team: 

“It would be the Virginia Tech Hokies.” 

Favorite Sport: 

“Baseball. I grew up playing it, my daughter plays softball and my son played, his boys play, so we’re kind of a baseball family.” 

Which athlete did you look up to the most growing up?  

“It would have to be Henry Aaron. I worked growing up for the Richmond Braves, which was in those years the Triple-A farm club for the Atlanta Braves. Got to meet Henry Aaron and just thought the world of him. And Dale Murphy. Those would be my two favorites.” 

Is there a team you hate?   

“I don’t have one that I completely dislike, I would say there’s some … kind of an adversarial mindset there, but not any team that I just viscerally hate.” 

What sports or politics cliche resonates the most with you?  

“Offense wins ballgames but defense wins championships.” 

And on Virgina Tech, how do you think new football coach James Franklin will fare? 

“He’s going to do a great job. If you look at what they’ve done in the transfer portal and gather the resources for NIL [name, image and likeness], which is the world we live in today … look at what Indiana did. All the naysayers of the ACC, who competed in the national championship game and came that close? Miami. I think we too can be at that level. We were there for years. I think James Franklin can bring us back.”

Read the coverage 

• It’s been a busy week for NBC sportscaster Mike Tirico, who called the Feb. 8 Super Bowl before flying to Milan to cover the Winter Games for the network. The New York Times has a fun Q&A with the longtime broadcaster, who claims to have made the transition from San Francisco to Italy on just two cups of coffee.  
• The PGA Tour is not being subtle about it anymore. A new ad campaign promoting the Players Championship declares “March is going to be major,” prompting Sports Illustrated to examine whether the iconic TPC Sawgrass course is ready to handle a major championship for the modern game of golf.  
• Can you believe football starts again in just more than 200 days? The pigskin-obsessed staffers at The Ringer lay out the nine biggest storylines heading into the 2026 NFL offseason. One of the top lines to follow: Can the Seahawks maintain long-term success?