On Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are being defined as much by political friction as by athletic achievement. While Team USA continues to hunt for medals, a “Cold War” has erupted between several high-profile athletes and President Trump over the administration’s aggressive domestic immigration enforcement.
The tension reached a fever pitch this week following public condemnations from athletes regarding ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) operations, specifically referencing “Operation Metro Surge” and recent federal actions in Minnesota.
Key Athlete Activism & Presidential Backlash
The intersection of the Games and domestic policy has moved from social media to official Olympic press conferences.
Rich Ruohonen (Curling): The Minnesota native and veteran attorney used a press conference on February 10 to condemn ICE raids in his home state. Ruohonen stated, “What is happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of gray,” specifically citing constitutional concerns over “unreasonable searches and seizures.”
Hunter Hess (Freestyle Skiing): Hess sparked a firestorm by stating he had “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S. flag. President Trump responded on Truth Social, labeling Hess a “real loser” and stating, “If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team.”
Gus Kenworthy (Freestyle Skiing): Representing Great Britain but formerly of Team USA, Kenworthy posted a viral photo of himself urinating “F ICE” into the snow, drawing both massive support and death threats.
Mikaela Shiffrin & Chloe Kim: While more measured, Shiffrin quoted Nelson Mandela on inclusivity, while Kim defended her teammates’ right to speak out, noting that as a child of immigrants, the enforcement news “hits pretty close to home.”
Impact on the Games
The political backdrop has created a complex atmosphere for the U.S. delegation in Italy.
| Issue | Current Impact |
| Security Rumors | Reports surfaced that ICE agents were helping with Olympic security. The U.S. Ambassador to Italy clarified that security is solely handled by Italian authorities. |
| Crowd Reactions | Vice President JD Vance was reportedly jeered by portions of the crowd at the San Siro stadium during the opening ceremony when shown on the big screen. |
| Athlete Safety | Several athletes, including figure skater Amber Glenn, have reported receiving online threats, leading some to temporarily step back from social media during competition. |
