As US Olympians converse out for tolerance and LGBTQ rights, some face on-line hate and assaults by Trump : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2877x1918+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2F4a%2F7dba91f244faa841e064108055ab%2Fap26039750647366.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2877x1918+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2F4a%2F7dba91f244faa841e064108055ab%2Fap26039750647366.jpg" class="img" alt="Amber Glenn of the United States competes during the figure skating women's team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. Glenn says she's received online hate and threats for speaking out in support of LGBTQ rights in Milan." fetchpriority="high"/> Amber Glenn of the USA competes through the determine skating girls's staff occasion on the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. Glenn says she's obtained on-line hate and threats for talking out in assist of LGBTQ rights in Milan. Stephanie Scarbrough/AP cover caption

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Stephanie Scarbrough/AP MILAN - When U.S. skiers took the stage for a press convention Friday, at first of the Milan Cortino Video games, they have been requested about turmoil again house the place ICE brokers have detained a rising variety of immigrants and clashed violently with protesters in Minneapolis.

A lot of the athletes who spoke that day voiced concern, calling for de-escalation, tolerance and respect. "The Olympics signify peace, so let's not solely deliver world peace however home peace inside our nation," stated Alex Ferreira, a 31-year-old who gained silver and bronze medals at previous Winter Video games.

Svea Irving from Winter Park, Colorado chimed in. "It is undoubtedly a tricky time in our nation proper now," the 23-year-old stated. "I simply proceed to signify my values [which are] compassion and love and respect for others."

For causes that are not completely clear, it was the remark of 27-year-old Hunter Hess from Bend, Oregon, that went viral and caught the eye of conservative leaders, together with President Trump. "I believe it brings up blended feelings to signify the U.S. proper now," Hess stated.

"There's clearly so much happening that I am not the largest fan of and I believe lots of people aren't. Simply because I am carrying the flag does not imply I signify every part that is happening within the U.S.," he added.

Trump fired again on his Reality Social platform. "U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, an actual Loser, says he does not signify his Nation within the present Winter Olympics," Trump wrote on Sunday. "If that is the case, he should not have tried out for the Crew, and it is too unhealthy he is on it. Very laborious to root for somebody like this."

A Republican congressman working for governor in Florida additionally criticized Hess on the social media platform X. "YOU selected to put on our flag. YOU selected to signify our nation, wrote Rep. Byron Donalds, who serves a district in southwest Florida. "If that is too laborious for you, then GO HOME."

However the Olympics virtually all the time include a political dimension and this is not the primary time Trump's assaults on democratic norms and his administration's crackdown on immigrants have stirred controversy at these Winter Video games.

There have been anti-ICE and anti-Trump protests in Italian cities. A half dozen demonstrators have been arrested over the weekend in Milan after clashing with police close to the Olympic ice hockey stadium. Vice President Vance was additionally jeered through the opening ceremony for the Video games on Friday evening.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4427x2490+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Ff8%2F212e463b4943b57b4405c60995ad%2Fap26037781983415.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4427x2490+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fea%2Ff8%2F212e463b4943b57b4405c60995ad%2Fap26037781983415.jpg" class="img" alt="Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance cheer on team USA during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. They faced boos and jeers from some in the crowd." loading="lazy"/> Vice President JD Vance and his spouse Usha Vance cheer on staff USA through the Olympic opening ceremony on the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. They confronted boos and jeers from some within the crowd. Ashley Landis/AP/AP cover caption

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Ashley Landis/AP/AP Throughout a separate press convention final week, determine skater Amber Glenn, a supporter of LGBTQ rights, drew headlines after she advised reporters her group confronted "laborious instances" below Trump.

"It is not the primary time we have needed to come collectively as a group to attempt to struggle for our human rights," Glenn stated. "I hope that I can use my platform and my voice all through these Video games to attempt to encourage folks to remain robust."

Over the weekend Glenn, 26 from Plano, Texas, stated in a now expired Instagram put up that she had confronted "a scary quantity of hate/threats" on social media due to her feedback. Requested about her expertise by NPR, Glenn stated she was disenchanted.

"I've by no means had so many individuals want me hurt earlier than, only for being me and talking out about being respectable and, like, human rights," she stated.

In a press release, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) condemned threats towards athletes and stated they report any "credible" threats to legislation enforcement.

"It is a unhappy actuality that over the past a number of video games, we have seen an uptick in abusive and dangerous messages directed on the athletes throughout competitors," the USOPC assertion stated.

Not all U.S. Olympic athletes have voiced progressive views, or criticized the Trump administration. Many are centered completely on sport or when requested about turmoil and division again house expressed delight in competing for the U.S.

"Our nation's been having points for 250 years," stated Nick Goepper, a 31-year-old skier from Lawrenceburg, Indiana. "I am right here to uphold traditional American values of respect, alternative and freedom and equality and mission these to the world."

Mark Adams, a spokesman for the Worldwide Olympic Committee, additionally voiced enthusiasm about Vance's presence in Milan.

"With the following Video games developing in Los Angeles, we're tremendous completely happy, very completely happy, that the U.S. administration is so engaged with the Video games right here and clearly going ahead," Adams stated at a press convention in Milan. "That is a terrific factor for the Olympic motion."