A U.S. Olympic curler is drawing attention for using his platform at the Winter Games to criticize President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, becoming the latest American athlete to inject domestic politics into the Olympic spotlight.
Rich Ruohonen, 54, a member of the U.S. Olympic curling team and a Minnesota native, spoke at length Tuesday about Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations taking place in and around Minneapolis. While addressing reporters, Ruohonen said he was proud to represent Team USA but felt compelled to comment on what he described as troubling developments in his home state.
“I’d like to say I’m proud to be here to represent Team USA, and to represent our country,” Ruohonen said. “But we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention what’s going on in Minnesota.”
Federal authorities conducted ICE operations in the region to arresting criminal illegal immigrants, many of whom are wanted for serious felony offenses. Those efforts have been met with protests, and in some cases confrontations, from anti-ICE activists attempting to disrupt the arrests.
Ruohonen, a personal injury lawyer, criticized the enforcement actions, arguing they violate constitutional protections. He also praised demonstrators opposing ICE, describing them as compassionate and motivated by a desire to help others.
“What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of grey. It’s clear,” Ruohonen said, adding that he admired the protesters for “showing the love, the compassion, the integrity and respect for others.”
The curler went on to suggest that Team USA was competing on behalf of Americans who share those values, stating that the Olympics represent “excellence, respect, friendship,” and that his team was playing for people who embody compassion and respect.
Ruohonen’s remarks come amid broader controversy involving U.S. athletes and criticism of Trump during the Games. Skier Hunter Hess sparked backlash last week after telling reporters in Italy that it was “a little hard” for him to wear Team USA gear because of political developments in the United States. Trump responded by calling Hess a “real Loser” and questioned why he tried out for the team.
Hess later walked back his comments, saying he valued free expression but was proud to represent the United States and “cannot wait” to compete for Team USA.
The controversy also drew commentary from Eileen Gu, the California-born freestyle skier who chose to compete for China rather than the United States. In an interview with The Athletic, Gu criticized Trump’s remarks about Hess, saying they distracted from the spirit of the Olympics.
“I’m sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so unrelated to the spirit of the Games,” Gu said, adding that the situation “really runs contrary to everything the Olympics should be.”
Gu, who competed for China at the 2022 Beijing Games, said she empathized with Hess, citing her own experience facing criticism for leaving Team USA as a teenager to represent China.
“As someone who has got caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes,” Gu said. “I hope that they can ski to their very best.”
Together, the comments from Ruohonen, Hess and Gu underscore a growing pattern of athletes using the Olympic stage to weigh in on American political debates, even as critics argue that the Games should remain focused on international competition rather than domestic policy disputes.
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Lemme see … Olympic athletes can say what they want about Trump and his stance on ILLEGALS.
But Trump can’t, according to them, give an answer to their remarks.
Oh, that’s REAL 1st Amendment freedom!
But I suppose that it is how libs think.
‘It’s OK for me to trash you, but you can’t answer back’.
One more attempt to destroy our Constitutional rights!
Maybe if these traders get messages from all sponsors will drop them as a result of their disrespect for their country, it might change their liberal minds!
If the athletes want to discuss politicks with news media at the Olympic,. for me they are there to make a name for themself only and not to represent the United States of America. Get lost!