At the ongoing Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, a familiar pattern has emerged: liberal-leaning reporters, eager to stir division, have repeatedly pressed American athletes on how President Trump’s tough immigration enforcement policies affect their pride in representing the United States. The questions are thinly veiled attempts to bait Team USA members into criticizing secure borders, law and order, and the America First agenda that millions voted for.
Freestyle skier Hunter Hess offered the kind of mealy-mouthed response the media loves: “mixed emotions” about wearing the stars and stripes, claiming he represents only “the good things” about America and not “everything that’s going on.”
Not long after, fellow skier Chris Lillis chimed in with talk of being “heartbroken” over immigration enforcement, urging the country to focus on “love and respect” while implying current policies fall short. Even snowboarder Chloe Kim, daughter of immigrants, felt compelled to note the issue “hits close to home” and called for compassion—code words often used to undermine enforcement of our laws.
Nothing quite captures the irony like an Olympic athlete draped in the American flag while subtly, or not so subtly, denouncing the very nation that gave them the platform to shine on the world stage. These athletes train with taxpayer-supported facilities, compete under the Stars and Stripes, and reap the rewards of American opportunity, yet some seem ashamed to fully embrace what that flag stands for: sovereignty, security, and the rule of law.
Conservatives have every right to feel outraged. When athletes use the global spotlight to echo leftist talking points on immigration, amid a crackdown that targets illegal crossings, protects American jobs, and restores order after years of open-border chaos, it feels like ingratitude bordering on betrayal.
President Trump rightly called out Hess as making it “very hard to root for someone like this,” reminding us that representing the country means standing with it, not hedging bets or virtue-signaling abroad.
But here’s the deeper truth that sets America apart: We protect the freedom of speech, even when it’s misguided or ungrateful.
Only in this exceptional nation can individuals criticize their government so openly, without fear of reprisal, while still enjoying the liberties and opportunities it provides. Dissidents in authoritarian regimes dream of such freedom. These athletes can voice their discomfort precisely because America safeguards the First Amendment, not because the country is flawed beyond redemption, but because it’s strong enough to handle dissent.
The vast majority of Team USA competitors focus on what matters: hard work, excellence, and bringing home medals for a grateful nation. They represent the best of us: patriotism, perseverance, and pride in being American. The few who play the media’s game risk alienating the fans back home who cheer them on, pay for their training through taxes, and expect unity on the world stage.
Hannah Nelson is the Vice President of American Faith Media. Any opinions or independent views expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of any affiliated organizations or publishers.
