We’ve seen how some American athletes have taken the opportunity at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics to sound off on their political views. Figure skater Amber Glenn, skiers Hunter Hess, Chris Lillis, and Mikaela Shiffrin, and others have all made statements that many consider woke, anti-American, or anti-Trump.

What their political leanings have to do with sport is beyond me. I can’t imagine if I were ever to face the cameras as an Olympian that I’d start shoving my partisan viewpoints down the fans’ throats, in effect telling at least half of them to kiss off.

Donald Trump took notice, unloading on Hess — calling him a “real loser — and now Vice President JD Vance has some choice words for the divisive athletes as well, telling them they should be more focused on representing the country than bashing the United States government.

Speaking from a tarmac in Baku, Azerbaijan, the VP told reporters that American athletes are there to represent the whole country, regardless of political party:

? WOW! JD Vance WENT OFF on disgraced US Olympian Hunter Hess, who said he was “ashamed” to represent the US

“You’re there to play a SPORT, and represent your country, and hopefully win a medal.
You’re NOT there to pop off about politics.”

Darn right?? pic.twitter.com/rgC1lXNUu5

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 11, 2026

MORE: Trump Brings Some Cold Hard Reality to Olympic Skier Who Dissed America

About Those 'Boos' of Vance at Olympics - and Who Should Have Earned Some Raspberries Instead

Americans want to be able to root for our own athletes, he explained:

The Olympic athletes were unbelievable and I know the entire country is rooting for them.

Yes, you're gonna have some Olympic athletes who pop off about politics. I feel like that happens every Olympics. My advice to them would be to try to bring the country together. And when you're representing the country, you're representing Democrats and Republicans. 

You're there to play a sport, and you're there to represent your country and hopefully win a medal. You're not there to pop off about politics.

But if you’re an athlete who insists on speaking out, even though it’s not the time or the place, you can’t then go crying in your milk when you get criticism:

So when Olympic athletes enter the political arena, they should expect some pushback. 

But most Olympic athletes, whatever their politics, are doing a great job, are certainly enjoying the support of the entire country. And I think recognize that the way to bring the country together is not to show up in a foreign country and attack the president of the United States. 

Well said.

MORE: About Those 'Boos' of Vance at Olympics - and Who Should Have Earned Some Raspberries Instead

VP Vance Speaking to U.S. Team in Milan, Reminds Them of What's Truly Important at Winter Olympics

But JD didn’t just have wise words to say; he also put on quite a show:

Big JD Vance takes the gold in men’s figure skating at the Winter Olympics ⛸️ ? pic.twitter.com/PamwFKG8c1

— Politi_Rican ?? ? ?? (@TheRicanMemes) February 8, 2026

OK, not really. That’s AI, but it sure would have been cool.

Editor’s Note: Hollywood, academia, and liberal elites are out of touch with the average American.

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