While the 2026 Winter Olympics kicked off in Milan last week, athletes on Team USA, including Amber Glenn, Chloe Kim, and those with roots in the US, like Gus Kenworthy, couldn’t just ignore what’s been happening back home.
Over the past couple of months, ICE has continued its presence across the country, particularly in Minneapolis, where Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed. In response, citizens have taken to the streets in protest, and celebrities have been making statements on the red carpet.
There are also the ongoing battles for LGBTQ+ rights in the US. Activists are advocating for trans athletes to compete in their sports. This issue permeated the 2024 Summer Olympics Games, as some of the women competing found themselves targeted by anti-trans attacks based on their appearance and athleticism.
Continuing a legacy of political protest and commentary in sports, some Winter Olympics athletes are doing their own version of protest as they compete in the Games. Others are reflecting on how it feels to represent the US in its current state. From press conferences to social media posts, here’s how athletes are speaking out.
Hunter Hess
When asked at a press conference what it’s like representing the US, freestyle skier Hunter Hess said, “It brings up mixed emotions to represent the US right now, I think. It's a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't." He continued to explain that he considers himself representing his friends, family, former Olympic athletes before him, and the things that align with his “moral values.”
It seems his comments struck a nerve, and President Trump responded; Hess, however, doubled down on Instagram. “There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better," Hess wrote. "One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out.”
After his qualifying run, Hess held up an “L” sign to his forehead. He said, “Apparently, I'm a loser,” seemingly referring to President Trump calling him a “real loser.” In turn, Hess called that motivation, adding, “I worked so hard to be here. I sacrificed my entire life to make this happen. I’m not going to let controversy like that get in my way.”
Gus Kenworthy
Though Gus Kenworthy is competing on behalf of England in this Olympics, the skier was on Team USA at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where he won a silver medal and advocated for stray dogs. Shortly after, he came out as gay and spoke out about how sports can be more inclusive. While he may be representing his birth country this time, the Los Angeles-based athlete is still carrying on with his spirit of protest.
On February 4, before the Games got started, Kenworthy wrote, “F*ck ICE” in the snow and shared the photo on Instagram. In the caption, he asked followers to call their senators and “put pressure on them during the current DHS funding negotiations.” Later, in a video, he said, “I care about the US, and I care about what’s happening there.”
Amber Glenn
At a February 4 press conference, ice skater Amber Glenn, who came out as bisexual and pansexual in 2016, talked about how the Trump administration has affected the LGBTQ+ community and others. “It's been a hard time for the community overall in this administration,” she said. “It isn’t the first time that we've had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights."
Glenn continued, “And now, especially, it's not just affecting the queer community, but many other communities, and I think that we are able to support each other in a way that we didn't have to before. And because of that, it's made us a lot stronger.” She also opposed the idea that athletes shouldn’t be political, saying, “politics affect us all.”
In an Instagram Story, Glenn revealed that there has been backlash to her comments. “When I chose to utilize one of the amazing things about the United States of America (freedom of speech) to convey how I feel as an athlete competing for Team USA in a troubling time for many Americans, I am now receiving a scary amount of hate/threats for simply using my voice when asked how I feel,” she wrote.
Chris Lillis
At the same press conference where Hess spoke, American freestyle skier Chris Lillis said, “I feel heartbroken about what's happened in the United States. I think as a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody's rights and making sure that we're treating our citizens, as well as anybody, with love and respect.” He added that he hopes viewers can watch the Olympics and see that the athletes represent that image of America.
Eileen Gu
California-born Eileen Gu, who found herself in the spotlight for choosing to compete as part of Team China, the country her parents emigrated from, for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, offered support for Hess. Per ESPN, she said she talked to Hess, sharing that what he is going through now is similar to what she has experienced. To the media, she said, "I'm sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so… unrelated to the spirit of the Games. It really runs contrary to everything that the Olympics should be."
Chloe Kim
As a child of immigrants, snowboarder Chloe Kim talked about how current events in the United States and at the Olympics have felt personal, saying it “hits close to home.” She also spoke up about athletes exercising their right to speak up.
“The US has given my family and me so much opportunity,” she said. “But I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions about what's going on. And I think we need to lead with love and compassion, and I would like to see some more of that.”
Bea Kim
At the same press conference as Hess and Lillis, snowboarder Bea Kim said the US is “obviously very divided.” She said she is proud to represent the US, and added, “That being said, I think diversity is what makes us a very strong country and what makes us so special."
She noted that she's the grandchild of immigrants and pointed to her fellow women’s half-pipe snowboarders on the panel—Chloe Kim, Maddie Mastro, and Maddy Schaffrick—and said that the four of them are a great example of diversity because they come from different backgrounds.
Maddie Mastro
In addition to Chloe Kim and Bea Kim’s comments, Mastro said that she is saddened by what is happening in the US and can’t ignore it. And, like Chloe, she emphasized the value of compassion.
This article was originally published on Febraury 10, 2026 and has been updated as the Olympics 2026 continue.
