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WATCH: Team USA Olympic Skier Trashes Country Over ICE Raids: ‘Mixed Emotions’
Multiple members of Team USA’s freestyle skiing team took the opportunity to trash U.S. immigration policies and the country itself ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
During a press conference on Friday, aerials specialist Chris Lillis, a 27-year-old Olympic gold medalist, said he was “heartbroken” over the enforcement of basic immigration law. “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 when asked for his opinion on the U.S. political climate.
“I think that as a country we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect,” he went on to say.
Teammate Hunter Hess, who is competing in freeski halfpipe, voiced similar opinions. “It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said of representing the United States. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S,” he added.
Hess went on to state that he had “mixed emotions” about representing the United States. “I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S,” he said.
“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now… Just because I wear the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S.”
– Team USA Olympic Skier Hunter HessThe anti-ICE, liberal athletes are already insufferable at the Olympics…
If… pic.twitter.com/yn7ruEHbFr
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) February 7, 2026
Figure skater Amber Glenn lamented the association with ICE, calling it “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.”
Former Team USA skier Gus Kenworthy, now competing for the United Kingdom, posted a social media image condemning ICE ahead of the competition. “Innocent people have been murdered, and enough is enough. We can’t wait around while ICE continues to operate with unchecked power in our communities,” he said, seemingly referencing two anti-ICE agitators who were shot while attacking agents.
The athletes’ statements coincide with U.S. Olympic officials renaming their athlete hospitality lounge from “ICE House” to “Winter House” to allow participants to distance themselves from the immigration enforcement agency.
I knew this was going to happen. This is exactly why I will not be watching the Olympics. Some athletes can’t help themselves.
“Team USA freestyle skiers say ICE does not represent them”
— Spitfire (@RealSpitfire) February 7, 2026
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