In a now-viral video posted to X, Scott erupted at American athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics after several of them openly admitted they’re conflicted about representing a country they say is spiraling under Donald Trump’s leadership. His blunt message: if you don’t want to “represent” the U.S. uncritically, then you should be stripped of your Olympic uniform and tossed out.
“Representing the United States—a beacon for freedom and democracy—at the Olympics is an honor. Anyone who feels otherwise should be stripped of their USA Olympic uniform,” Scott declared in the clip, doubling down in the X caption that the U.S. is this mythical “beacon” of liberty — even while he wants to punish athletes for expressing views.
Scott’s rant dovetails with a broader GOP pile-on after Team USA competitors said they’re wrestling with what the flag means right now. Freestyle skier Hunter Hess said representing the U.S. “brings up mixed emotions” and that “wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.” at a press conference in Italy.
That earned him a MAGA beatdown from the Republican commentariat. President Donald Trump blasted Hess as a “real Loser” on Truth Social, insisting that if Hess didn’t want to represent America he “shouldn’t have tried out for the Team.”
So the new conservative script is: athlete expresses nuanced criticism = unpatriotic = deserves punitive action. Scott’s ultimatum — uniform stripping for dissent — is the starkest expression yet. He didn’t identify which specific comments triggered him, but the message was clear: no criticism allowed on the world stage.
Independents and critics on social media were quick to call out the hypocrisy of attacking free speech under the banner of a “beacon for freedom and democracy.” Some pointed out that loving one’s country doesn’t require blind allegiance to every political moment or administration, and that athletes competing globally are fully within their rights to speak honest thoughts about what they see at home.
Whether you think these athletes should wear the flag with pride, grumble privately, or rant publicly — Scott’s stance is unmistakable: no grumbling allowed, or face consequences. That’s not just political posturing; it’s authoritarian theater dressed up as patriotism.
Watch Scott’s video and some reactions below:
Representing the United States—a beacon for freedom and democracy—at the Olympics is an honor.
Anyone who feels otherwise should be stripped of their USA Olympic uniform. pic.twitter.com/fciWOd8THX
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 9, 2026
