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JD Vance says Olympians ‘not there to pop off about politics’
Vice President JD Vance warned United States Olympic athletes to expect “pushback” if they delve into politics, defending President Donald Trump’s criticism of freestyle halfpipe skier Hunter Hess.
“You’re not there to pop off about politics,” Vance told reporters Feb. 11 while traveling back from an overseas trip where he led the U.S. delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics. “So when Olympic athletes enter the political arena, they should expect some pushback.”
Trump lashed out at Hess after the skier said he had “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S. “right now.”
“There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of,” Hess said, adding: “Wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
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The president subsequently slammed Hess as “a real Loser,” prompting the skier to respond on social media that “I love my my country… but there are always things that could be better.”
“One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out,” Hess added.
Vance noted that its not unusual for politics to intrude on the Olympics, but said the athletes should try to unite the country.
Unease over what’s happening in U.S. politics right now also was evident during the Olympics opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium in Milan, where Vance faced boos after he was shown on the jumbotron.
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance wave American flags during the Opening Ceremony for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium.
The vice president shrugged it off, saying he “had a great time at the Olympics.”
“I think the media made much ado about nothing with the fact that, yes, in a crowd of 30,000 people, there were certainly some people who disagreed with my policies or the policies of the administration,” Vance said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JD Vance tells Olympians to expect ‘pushback’ for talking about politics