U.S. Olympians Speak Out Against Trump Administration

Several American athletes have criticized the former president's policies on immigration and LGBTQ rights during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Since the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, several U.S. Olympians have spoken out against the policies of the Trump administration. Snowboarder Chloe Kim, skier Hunter Hess, figure skater Amber Glenn, and others have criticized Trump's immigration tactics and his rollback of LGBTQ protections. The athletes have used their platforms to express mixed emotions about representing the U.S. amid these political issues.

Why it matters

The Olympics are meant to celebrate athletic excellence and global unity, with each team member representing their country. However, the political divisions in the U.S. have spilled over into the international sporting event, as some American athletes feel conflicted about the values their country is projecting.

The details

Snowboarder Chloe Kim spoke about the importance of unity and leading "with love and compassion" on the topic of immigration, drawing from her own experiences as the child of immigrants. Skier Hunter Hess expressed "mixed emotions" about representing the U.S. due to the country's current political climate, particularly around LGBTQ rights. Figure skater Amber Glenn, who identifies as pansexual, also voiced support for the LGBTQ community and criticized the Trump administration's policies. Other U.S. Olympians, including skiers Chris Lillis and Jessie Diggins, and hockey player Kelly Pannek, have also spoken out against the former president's actions.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics are being held from February 6 to February 22 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
  • Several U.S. Olympians have spoken out against the Trump administration since the start of the Winter Games last week.

The players

Chloe Kim

A U.S. snowboarder who has spoken out against the Trump administration's immigration tactics.

Hunter Hess

A U.S. skier who has expressed "mixed emotions" about representing the country amid the current political climate, particularly around LGBTQ rights.

Amber Glenn

A U.S. figure skater who has publicly identified as pansexual and voiced support for the LGBTQ community in the face of the Trump administration's policies.

Chris Lillis

A U.S. skier who has spoken out against the Trump administration.

Jessie Diggins

A U.S. skier who has spoken out against the Trump administration.

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What they’re saying

“In moments like these it's really important for us to unite. We are allowed to voice our opinions on what's going on. I think we need to lead with love and compassion.”

— Chloe Kim (Newsweek)

“I think it brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now. 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.”

— Hunter Hess, Skier (Newsweek)

“It isn't the first time we've had to come together as a community to try to fight for our human rights. I hope that I can use my platform and my voice throughout these Games to try to encourage people to stay strong.”

— Amber Glenn, Figure Skater (Newsweek)

What’s next

The Winter Olympics continue through February 22 and include events in alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, ice hockey, and more.

The takeaway

The political divisions in the U.S. have spilled over into the international sporting event of the 2026 Winter Olympics, as some American athletes feel conflicted about representing a country they believe is moving away from core values of respect, opportunity, freedom, and equality.