• Milano 2026: Olympic Athletes Break Silence to Criticize Trump’s Immigration Policies

With the start of the Winter Olympics in Milano–Cortina, a number of international athletes, particularly members of the U.S. team, began publicly denouncing President Donald Trump’s administration over its strict immigration policies and treatment of minority groups.

Despite the Olympic Charter’s ban on political demonstrations within sporting venues, athletes used social media and press interviews to voice their concerns. Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha were met with loud boos as the U.S. delegation entered the stadium during Friday’s opening ceremony.

In a notable move reported by U.S. media, the American team changed the name of its hospitality lodge from “Ice House” to “Winter House,” a symbolic gesture seen as distancing themselves from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

British skier Gus Kenworthy went further, posting a controversial photo showing an offensive message directed at ICE written in the snow, urging citizens to pressure the Senate to curb what he called the “unaccountable authority,” following the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Priti by federal agents in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, cross-country skiing champion Jessie Diggins stated she competes for values of “acceptance and compassion,” rejecting what she described as “hate and discrimination.” Ice hockey player Kelley Pank halted a press conference to call recent federal operations “horrifying.”