The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan were a demonstration of unity, world cooperation and joy. Yet, in an event where every competitor is celebrated for their talents, many, specifically on Team USA, were reduced to their identity as an American. Whether it be Trump shaming US Olympic freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete expressed concern about representing the US, or Kamala Harris’s “Headquarters” account calling Alysa Liu woke after congratulating the athlete for winning gold in free skate. Regardless of political stance, it was difficult to escape internal politics, even on a world stage.
“The Olympics are so unique because it is, by their very nature, sort of political,” said social science teacher Brandon Burmeister. “Yet it’s not supposed to be about internal partisan politics. It’s supposed to be unifying. And to see people on either side of the media spectrum attacking athletes or defending athletes for certain actions and stuff like that. I think it goes against the essence of it.”
For a country like the United States, where patriotism, competition, and sports are integral parts of the national identity, Team USA winter Olympic athletes received large amounts of backlash for speaking against the current administration. This conflict is felt by many Americans, especially those who do not support the current administration.
“Patriotism has become politicized recently in a way that I haven’t really seen before,” Knutsen said. “Now, waving an American flag or doing anything remotely patriotic can be seen as support for this administration.”
According to a poll by Gallup, a record-low of 58% of US adults are “extremely” or “very” proud to be an American. And this number lowers significantly for democrats, and younger generations. This number has eroded greatly due to dissatisfaction with the state of politics and the economy, according to AP News.
“It’s so weird because the American flag was never a controversial thing,” Burmeister said. “Now, when people fly the American flag, it’s almost like a symbol of this is our team. This belongs to us and the other team doesn’t get this. I find it to be reprehensible because the flag belongs to everybody. It doesn’t just belong to one side or the other. It’s a shared symbol of being American.”
The polarization of something as basic as the American flag has led many people to abandon their patriotism for America.
“I like the flag, but there is a certain negative stereotype about Americans,” Knutsen said. “I am not verbally patriotic versus with Denmark and Canada, I am very patriotic, as part of our culture and part of my family’s identity.”
Aside from negative stereotypes about Americans, Team USA members felt conflicted about representing the country after events of political turmoil. Less than a month before the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics, two citizens in Minnesota were shot and killed by ICE officers. Protests erupted throughout January and into the span of the Olympic Games. Hunter Hess, Team USA Olympic freestyle skier, expressed the inner conflict he felt representing the USA during a press conference, prompting a large amount of controversy.
“(Athletes) have the right to say whatever they want to say,” Burmeister said. “If they want to scream MAGA at the top of their lungs, if they want to criticize the government because they feel bad about it, okay. They have the right to say whatever they want.”
Yet, Team USA athletes, much like many Americans, are proud of the country they live in, putting aside the administration or internal politics. Patriotism is defined as the support of one’s country, separate from politics.
“You don’t have to support the current government to be patriotic,” Junior David Meyers said. “A lot of people disagree, but can still love what the United States stands for.”
