“You’re not here to joke about politics,” Vance said. “So when an Olympic athlete appears on the political stage, you should expect some backlash.”
JD Vance urges athletes to keep politics out of Olympic stage
US Vice President J.D. Vance said athletes should avoid politics during the Milan Olympics after being booed at the opening ceremony.
Vice President J.D. Vance defended President Donald Trump’s criticism of freestyle halfpipe skier Hunter Hess, warning U.S. Olympians that they could expect a “backlash” if they delved into politics.
“I’m not here to talk politics,” Vance told reporters on February 11, while returning from an overseas trip where he led the U.S. delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics. “So when an Olympian enters the political arena, you should expect some backlash.”
President Trump slammed Hess after he said he had “mixed feelings” about representing the United States “right now.”
“Obviously there’s a lot going on that I’m not a big fan of,” Hess said, adding, “Just because you wear the flag doesn’t mean you represent everything that’s going on in the United States.”
2026 Winter Olympics: At the opening ceremony, American athletes cheered and J.D. Vance was booed.
more: Olympic athletes have ‘mixed emotions’ representing Team USA amid uncertain domestic situation
The president then denounced Hess as a “real loser” and the skier responded on social media: “I love my country…but there’s always the possibility of it being better.”
“One of the many things that makes this country great is that we have the right and freedom to point it out,” Hess added.
Politics as Team USA for Winter Olympians
As 232 athletes represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, many are experiencing “mixed emotions.”
Vance said it’s not unusual for politics to interfere in the Olympics, but athletes should try to unite the country.
The anxiety about what’s going on in American politics was evident at the Olympic opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium, where Vance was booed as he appeared on the Jumbotron.
The vice president brushed it off, saying, “The Olympics were a lot of fun.”
“I think the media made a big fuss over the fact that there were certainly people in the crowd of 30,000 who opposed my policies and the policies of this administration,” Vance said.
