Donald Trump’s disruptive policies force US athletes to make statements and provoke Canadians. There could be a showdown in ice hockey.
For the Olympians from the USA, the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are a tightrope walk. They pursue sporting goals, but are also regularly asked about political issues at press conferences. And many have spoken out – about President Donald Trump’s confrontational course and especially about the aggressive actions of the immigration agency ICE.
An example is Mikaela Shiffrin, the US ski star. She said she wanted to represent her own values at the games: “Values such as inclusion, diversity and kindness, sharing, persistence and work ethic.” Freestyler Hunter Hess became more specific: “Just because I wear the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s happening in the United States right now.”
Winter Games in Milan and Cortina
These Olympians have criticized US policy
Trump insults Hess: “Real loser”
This statement angered some conservative politicians in the USA, and Trump also reacted. He called Hess one in a post “real loser“It’s hard to cheer for someone like that.
The US government, in turn, received European feedback when JD Vance was shown at the opening ceremony. Many in the Milan audience booed the vice president. Denmark, on the other hand, being targeted by the US because of Greenland, received particularly loud applause.
Trump could come to Milan for the finale
But those incidents were just a taste of what could follow if the U.S. hockey team reaches Sunday’s men’s final. In this case, Trump is reportedly considering a visit to Milan. The USA will play its semifinal against Slovakia on Friday at 9:10 p.m.
The final with Trump’s visit would be even more politically charged if – as with the women’s event – the expected final against Canada takes place. The Canadians would still have to defeat Finland in the semi-finals (Friday, 4:40 p.m.).
For Canada, ice hockey is more than a national sport
USA versus Canada in the Olympic ice hockey final – more politically charged rivalry is hardly possible at the moment, especially from a Canadian perspective. There, ice hockey is more than just the national sport; for many, it is part of their identity. “Canada could come home from the Olympics with the most medals of any country, but if the hockey medal were only silver, that would really disappoint Canadians,” said Canadian journalist Shawna Richer.
Richer works for them New York Times and reported there in the podcast “The Daily” about how aggressive US policy affects Canadians. Early after moving back into the White House, Trump put economic pressure on his northern neighbor with tariffs. And he talked about wanting to make Canada the 51st state in the United States. “When he said all those things, Canadians were hurt at first, but then they got really angry,” Richer said.
Escalation at Four Nations Tournament 2025
In the middle of this heated atmosphere, a four-nation tournament took place in February 2025 Montreal (Canada) and Boston (USA), where the ice hockey rivals met again after a break of several years. “For Canadians and perhaps some Americans, the sport of ice hockey almost acts as a proxy for what the countries are currently experiencing politically.”said Richer.
The tensions were enormous. During the US anthem, the boos from the stands were loud in Montreal. And when the USA and Canada met, things escalated on the ice: there were three fights in the first nine seconds of the game, the first right after the game had started. Canada lost the group game 1:3, but had the chance for revenge in the final – and won 3:2 after extra time.
Canada’s then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, derided by Trump as a “governor,” wrote on social media: “You can’t take our country – or our game.”
Bridge between Windsor and Detroit as a political issue
It’s been a year since that clash, but since then tensions have only increased, according to Richer. “A few days ago, President Trump even threatened to open a new bridge between Windsor and Detroit that Canada financed.”
Significantly, the bridge is named after one of the most important ice hockey players in Canada’s history, Gordie Howe. He played for the US NHL franchise for 25 years Detroit Red Wings.
As explosive as the legendary final from 1980
It is unlikely that wild brawls will break out again in a possible USA vs. Canada final, as this would be severely punished at the Olympics. But in terms of explosiveness, the duel could rival the legendary final of Lake Placid 1980, which is called “Miracle on Ice” has gone down in history. In the middle of the Cold War, the Americans defeated the highly favored USSR 4:3.
At that time, Canada only came in sixth place, a fiasco for the record Olympic champion. The tenth Olympic gold in the men’s tournament should now follow in Milan – ideally against the USA. Journalist Richer emphasized that many Canadians felt harassed by the USA. For them would be “In these times, a victory for Canada over the Americans feels very, very good”.