Athletes, spectators, and officials at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina publicly addressed U.S. immigration enforcement, political leadership, and free-expression rules during a series of incidents involving Team USA and international competitors.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Several events at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina have drawn attention to U.S. immigration policy and domestic political divisions, as American athletes, international competitors, and spectators made public statements or demonstrations connected to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. leadership.
During a press conference, Team USA freestyle skiers Chris Lillis and Hunter Hess addressed questions about recent protests and immigration enforcement in the United States, emphasizing that wearing the American flag did not mean endorsing all U.S. government actions. According to remarks cited by Reuters, Lillis said he felt “heartbroken” about developments in the United States and clarified that he was responding to questions about ICE and related protests.
“I feel heartbroken about what’s happened in the United States ….. I’m pretty sure you’re referencing ICE, and some of the protests and things like that,” Lillis said. He added that the country should “focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect.”
Hess also described discomfort with representing Team USA amid ongoing political controversies. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.,” he said, adding that it was “a little hard” to wear Team USA gear given “a lot going on” that he was “not the biggest fan of.”
Other American athletes echoed broader themes of unity. Freestyle skier Alex Ferreira said the Olympics represented “peace,” adding, “Let’s not only bring world peace, but domestic peace within our country as well, hopefully.”
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry also addressed concerns about the reception facing the U.S. delegation, expressing hope that spectators would “be respectful of each other” when asked about the possibility of hostility toward American officials and athletes.
Against that backdrop, U.S. Olympic officials reportedly changed the name of their athlete hospitality lounge from the “ICE House” to the “Winter House.” Figure skater Amber Glenn commented that it was “unfortunate that the term ICE isn’t something we can embrace because of what’s happening and the implications of what some individuals are doing.”
A separate incident involved British-American freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, who posted an image on Instagram urging followers to contact their senators to oppose ICE during Department of Homeland Security funding negotiations. The post included an image showing the phrase “F*ck ice” written in snow between two skis, a photo later circulated online by Collin Rugg.
Kenworthy’s post included a prepared script encouraging constituents to pressure lawmakers to limit ICE and Border Patrol funding and operations. “Innocent people have been murdered, and enough is enough,” the statement read, calling for “real guardrails and accountability — including getting ICE and CBP out of our communities.”
An IOC spokesperson told the Guardian that Kenworthy would not face disciplinary action, noting that Olympic rules allow athletes “the opportunity to express their views” during the Games. Kenworthy, who was raised in Colorado, is competing in his fourth Olympics. He represented the United States in 2014 and 2018 before switching to Great Britain ahead of the 2022 Beijing Games to compete for the country of his birthplace.
Political tensions also surfaced during the opening ceremony, when U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were booed by some spectators as cameras showed them applauding Team USA during the delegation’s entrance. Footage of the moment was shared online by Democratic Wins.
NBC announcers noted the reaction on air, reporting that hisses could be heard from the crowd. The booing was brief and less intense than reactions often directed at politicians at major sporting events in the United States. American athletes received a positive reception overall, as did singer Mariah Carey, who performed in both English and Italian.
Vance, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is leading the U.S. delegation to the Winter Olympics, where athlete expression, political symbolism, and international rules on protest have converged on the global stage.
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