Team USA freestyle skiers spark Olympic outrage over remarks about representing US: 'Anti-American rhetoric'

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American freestyle skiers are facing intense backlash on social media after comments made about representing the United States at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics amid the Trump administration’s recent immigration enforcement operations in the U.S. 

Speaking to the media ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony, several members of Team USA’s freestyle ski team spoke out about representing the U.S. as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations continue to be carried out under President Donald Trump's second term. 

Bronze medalist Christopher Lillis poses on the podium during the awards ceremony for the men’s aerials at the 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup at Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin City, Jilin province, China. It happened on Feb. 23, 2025. (Yan Linyun/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Two-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist Chris Lillis said that while he "would never" want to represent another country in the Games, he’s "heartbroken" over the administration’s actions. 

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"I love the USA. I would never want to represent a different country in the Olympics. With that being said, a lot of times, athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things.

"I feel heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States – I’m pretty sure you’re referencing ICE and some of the protests and things like that," he continued. "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. I hope that when people look at athletes compete in the