As the first openly queer woman to represent the United States in Olympic figure skating, Team USA's Amber Glenn is bravely defending her decision to speak her mind on the state of America's political climate. On February 4th, at a press conference for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Glenn was directly asked about President Trump's treatment of the LGBTQ+ community and how it affects her.
The 26-year-old athlete candidly shared that while it's been a "hard time" for the community, she hopes to use her platform and voice to "encourage people to stay strong." However, her answers at the press conference sparked a backlash, including a "scary" number of social media hate and threats.
On February 7th, Glenn revealed that she had received an alarming amount of hate and threats simply for using her voice when asked about her feelings. Despite expecting some backlash, she was still "disappointed" by the response. As a result, the figure skater said she would temporarily step away from social media but would stand strong in her beliefs.
"I will be limiting my time on social media for my own wellbeing for now, but I will never stop using my voice for what I believe in," she wrote on Instagram, signing the message with a white heart and an "Xoxo."
During the press conference, Glenn explained why she felt the need to speak out, dismissing critics who want her to "stick to [sports]." "I know that a lot of people will say, 'You're just an athlete, stick to your job and shut up about politics,' but politics affects us all," she told reporters. "It's something that I will not just be quiet about because it is something that affects us in our everyday lives."
Glenn's message comes after freestyle skiers Chris Lillis and Hunter Hess acknowledged that they're feeling "mixed emotions" about representing Team USA this year - a stance that polarized fans of the Olympics. Athletes have a history of refraining from wading into political matters.
"A lot of times, athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things," Lillis said at a press conference on February 6th. "I'm pretty sure you're referencing ICE and some of the protests and things like that. 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."
Despite his love for the United States, Lillis said he "would never want to represent" any other country at the Olympics. Meanwhile, Hess said that just because he wears the U.S. flag on his uniform doesn't mean he represents everything that's going on in the U.S.
"It's a little hard. There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't," Hess said. "I think for me, it's more I'm representing my friends and family back home... all the things that I believe are good about the United States."
The presence of Vice President JD Vance at the opening ceremony on February 6th drew boos from the crowd at San Siro Stadium. The country's immigration conversation has grown heated in recent months, particularly after the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota. ICE tactics, including the nearly two-week detainment of a 5-year-old boy, have drawn outrage from some, prompting national and international protests. On February 6th, citizens of Milan staged an anti-ICE protest in the Olympics host city.
