As President Trump skips the opening ceremony, allies and rivals alike arrive in Italy with more than medals on their minds—turning Olympic competition into a proxy test of global power, pride, and political rupture.
When the Winter Olympics open this week in Milan, President Donald Trump will not be seated among world leaders in San Siro Stadium. Yet his presence—political, rhetorical, and strategic—will be felt across the ice rinks, ski slopes, and locker rooms of the Games.
For many of America’s closest allies, defeating the United States will no longer be just a sporting triumph. It will be a statement.
Trump’s second-term foreign policy—marked by public clashes with allies, unpredictable tariff threats, revived ambitions over Greenland, and a combative tone toward Europe—has unsettled the traditional global order. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently described the moment as an international “rupture,” and the Olympics are shaping up to be one of its most visible stages.
“Beating the Americans isn’t just a game anymore,” said Charlie Angus, a former Canadian lawmaker and outspoken Trump critic. “In this climate, it feels existential.”
Sport Meets Strategy
According to a State Department memo viewed by 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' World News, the Trump administration sees the Milan Games as a stepping stone in a broader effort to brand the U.S. as a dominant force in global sport—part of a so-called “Decade of Sport in America,” culminating in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics and the 2034 Winter Games.
But that ambition collides with diplomatic reality.
Vice President JD Vance, a frequent critic of European leadership, will lead the U.S. delegation. Meanwhile, reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel would be involved in Olympic security sparked backlash in Italy, reinforcing concerns that American domestic politics are spilling into an international event built on unity.
Allies as Adversaries
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| Italy goalie Gabriella Durante skates before a women’s hockey game against France at the Milano Santagiulia ice hockey arena at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Feb. 5, 2026. | Darryl Dyck /The Canadian Press via AP |
Trump has openly sparred with several countries expected to dominate the medal tables. Norway—the top medal winner at the 2022 Beijing Games—has faced criticism from Trump over perceived slights tied to the Nobel Peace Prize. Canada, which finished fourth in Beijing, has endured repeated rhetorical clashes, including Trump’s past “51st state” jabs.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Denmark’s leadership—pressured by Trump over Greenland—and other European officials now find themselves competing not just athletically, but symbolically, against a United States seen as increasingly confrontational.
“Pretending we’re all one happy family is over,” Angus said. “That illusion is gone.”
Russia, Ukraine, and Olympic Contradictions
Adding to the tension is Trump’s comparatively restrained posture toward Russia. In Beijing, Russian athletes competed under a neutral flag due to doping sanctions, finishing second in the medal count just days before President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly dismissed criticism, arguing Trump’s “America First” agenda is delivering results. “Fairer trade, stronger borders, and peace through strength benefit everyone,” she said, urging foreign leaders to focus on policy rather than athletes.
Hockey, Anthems, and National Pride
Nowhere is the tension more visible than in hockey. Memories remain fresh from last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, when Canadian fans booed the U.S. anthem, Trump taunted Canada publicly, and Ottawa celebrated an overtime victory as a point of national pride.
The U.S. men’s team will face Denmark on Valentine’s Day in Milan, with a potential showdown against Canada in the medal rounds. Danish MEP Anders Vistisen struck a measured tone, suggesting Trump’s behavior might simply “add motivation.”
Elsewhere, American biathletes will square off against French champion Quentin Fillon Maillet, while Canadian speedskating star William Dandjinou faces stiff U.S. competition—each race carrying undertones far beyond the stopwatch.
A Fragile Olympic Ideal
Legendary Czech goaltender Dominik Hašek, a vocal critic of both Putin and Trump, warned that the Olympic spirit is fragile in the current climate. “With this U.S. president, no one knows what tomorrow brings,” he said. “One comment can turn sport into something darker.”
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| “With the current American president, no one knows what he will do or say tomorrow,” said legendary goaltender Dominik Hasek, a Gold medalist with Czechia in the 1998 Nagano Games. | Robert Sullivan/AFP via Getty Images |
The Olympic motto—“Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together”—was updated by the IOC to emphasize unity. In Milan, that ideal will be tested.
Still, many athletes and fans insist the Games must rise above politics. With more than 90 nations competing, Trump’s critics say they are determined not to let anger overshadow the spectacle—if only to deny him the satisfaction.
“We’re tougher than we were last year,” Angus said. “We’ll compete. We’ll win where we can. And then we’ll move on.”
Whether that restraint holds for the next two weeks remains an open question.
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-- By Jasmine Thomas
Lakisha Brown contributed to this report.
© 2026 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without written permission.
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