JD Vance hits back at Team USA Olympians slamming Donald Trump

JD Vance has waded into ongoing Olympic drama this week with a rather blunt message directed straight at Team USA: Focus on your jobs. The outspoken vice president hit out after several American athletes competing over in Italy spoke publicly about the political tensions back home under the administration of Vance’s boss President Trump. The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games is already well underway and holding so much of the world’s attention. Yet still, politics has crept into the snow and bled out over the ice. Vance, however, made it clear that he isn’t a fan of the crossover, especially when Olympic medals are on the line. (Picture: Getty Images)

Freestyle skiers Hunter Hess (pictured) and Chris Lillis have both come out and talked about the mood and atmosphere in the United States at the moment. As have ice skater Amber Glenn and curler Rich Ruohonen. Over the past fortnight they’ve addressed everything from immigration enforcement to LGBTQ+ rights. (Picture: Getty Images)

Vance, who was actually booed at points during last Friday’s opening ceremony, didn’t hold back when asked about what the Team USA members have been saying. He said: ‘Yes, you’re going to 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.’ (Picture: Getty Images)

VP Vance then doubled down with a longer warning about the dangers of mixing sport with politics. ‘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. When Olympic athletes enter the political arena, they should expect some pushback. But most Olympic athletes, whatever their politics, are doing a great job, certainly enjoy the support of the entire country, and I think recognise 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, but it’s to play your sport and to represent the country well.’ (Picture: Getty Images)

The backdrop is a Games already steeped in a fair amount of political noise. Glenn, who is an outspoken LGBTQ+ rights activist, revealed she received a ‘scary amount of hate’ online after saying the queer community has experienced a ‘hard time’ in the current climate. (Picture: Getty Images)

In their comments, Lillis and Ruohonen turned their attention to events over in Minnesota, criticising aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions over in The Land of 10,000 Lakes. Lillis admitted he was ‘heartbroken’ by what he was seeing unfold there. (Picture: Getty Images)

Hess found himself in the firing line too. After saying it ‘brings up mixed emotions’ to represent the United States in the present political landscape, he was branded a ‘real loser’ by President Trump. The remark only amplified the row, dragging The White House directly into the Olympic spotlight. (Picture: Getty Images)