Florida Senator Rick Scott set off a storm at the Winter Olympics when he said athletes who criticize the United States should be stripped of their Team USA uniforms. Scott posted a video on X and wrote that the Games are an honor and that those who disagree should face consequences.
Representing the United Statesβa beacon for freedom and democracyβat the Olympics is an honor.
Anyone who feels otherwise should be stripped of their USA Olympic unifor. pic.twitter.com/fciWOd8THX
β Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 9, 2026
His words landed in the middle of a larger debate about what it means to wear the flag while also speaking about problems at home. Some athletes have said they feel pain and worry about events in the United States even as they compete in Italy.
Hunter Hess told reporters at a Team USA press event that the moment felt complicated and heavy. βit brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now,β he said, adding the moment felt βa little hard.β
Not every athlete sounded the same note. Freestyle skier Chris Lillis told reporters he was βheartbrokenβ about what is happening in the United States, and he made clear he still loves the sport and the chance to compete.
Figure skater Amber Glenn also spoke up about things she finds worrying for the LGBTQ community. She later said she had gotten a βscary amountβ of hate and threats and that she would limit her social media use while she keeps skating.
Senator Scott took aim at those comments in his video. βAny person who goes to the Olympics to represent the United States and then says they donβt want to represent the United States should be immediately stripped of their Olympic uniform,β Scott declared in the clip.
Republican members of Congress piled on. Florida Congressman Byron Donalds wrote on X, βYOU chose to wear our flag.YOU chose to represent our country.YOU chose to compete at the @Olympics. If thatβs too hard for you, then GO HOME. Some things are bigger than politics. You just donβt get it.β
YOU chose to wear our flag.
YOU chose to represent our country.
YOU chose to compete at the @Olympics.If thatβs too hard for you, then GO HOME.
Some things are bigger than politics.
You just donβt get it. pic.twitter.com/H3cvUwuyMA
β Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) February 7, 2026
The attack did not stop with lawmakers.Β President Donald Trump called Hess βa real Loserβ and said the skier βshouldnβt have tried out for the Teamβ if he did not want to represent the country.
Social media stars added fuel to the fire. Jake Paul wrote that anybody who does not want to represent the United States should βgo live somewhere else.β And Megyn Kelly called it βbulls–tβ for athletes to wear an American uniform and then criticize the country.
Supporters of the athletes shot back quickly. They pointed out that speaking out is protected by the First Amendment and that the Olympics have long been a place where sport and speech sometimes meet.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has said it cares for athlete wellbeing and will offer support as needed. For now the team must balance the drive to win medals with the messy reality of politics and protest.
Featured image via X screengrab
