HuffPost has come under fire after calling it a “turn off” to be waving the American flag or chanting “U-S-A” following the record gold medal victories at the Winter Olympics – the most since 2002.
Team USA scored a total of 12 Gold medals at the Winter Olympics after men’s hockey defeated Canada, ending a 46-year drought since the “Miracle on Ice” against the Soviet Union in 1980.
The United States made HISTORY in Milan winning 12 gold medals, their most ever in the Winter Olympics 🇺🇸🥇
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 22, 2026
Team USA's previous record was 10 at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. pic.twitter.com/DoHNLngov5
Amid all this patriotic fervor, HuffPost felt the need to say, “If waving the American flag or chanting “USA!” turns you off right now, you’re not alone.”
If waving the American flag or chanting “USA!” turns you off right now, you're not alone. https://t.co/ndUODJtix4
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) February 21, 2026
The post on social media prompted significant backlash.
No. If this turns you off, get wrecked. https://t.co/ufHvtmHHcS pic.twitter.com/c4YQUl3XbJ
— Amy Swearer (@AmySwearer) February 22, 2026
An important reminder that while Republicans are consistently proud to be Americans, no matter who is President, Democrats tend to be fair weather “patriots” https://t.co/4ufqJETFKt pic.twitter.com/7NGpKGsZjD
— Logan Dobson (@LoganDobson) February 22, 2026
Go be alone smelling like cat piss, idiots. https://t.co/9D2r0O4H1e
— Kennedy (@KennedyNation) February 22, 2026
Oh please @HuffPost.
— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) February 22, 2026
Just stop. https://t.co/NwZjMEei8b pic.twitter.com/nmwQJVdXnr
If waving the American flag or chanting “USA!” turns you off, you should renounce your right to be here.
— hari raghavan (@haridigresses) February 23, 2026
It’s okay (and healthy) to disagree with the country’s policy, but if patriotism gives you the ick then just… leave. https://t.co/Tt1kd62TzF
This is such strawman bullshit. No serious person, of any political leaning, is turned off by the flag or USA chants. This is clickbait and it’s embarrassing. https://t.co/O9V9B5ECaM
— The Belk Report (@BelkReport) February 22, 2026
This is why so many people are instinctively turned off by the left. You can critique the bad parts of America while still being proud of America. Sporting accomplishments should be apolitical and something that binds us together. https://t.co/tW1y7TgG5d
— Corey Walker 🇺🇸 (@CoreyWriting) February 22, 2026
Shut up, HuffPo. Champions are speaking. https://t.co/BvF2UuwaxD pic.twitter.com/gldbZABBtk
— 🥂 Mrs. Buck Wilde 🥂 (@AnnaDsays) February 22, 2026
They keep trying to rebrand as patriotic but they just can't help themselves. https://t.co/xaa3i66wLQ
— Brett Dasovic (@Brettdasovic) February 23, 2026
If you get anxiety about watching the Olympics, you should cancel your next therapy appointment (it’s not working) and open a book about North Korea https://t.co/psiNnHuT7I
— Samantha Bullock (@SamLBullock) February 22, 2026
And the left wonders why most Americans think they’re out of touch.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) February 22, 2026
This is exactly why.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 https://t.co/WxXhA8LxkU
An article written by former ESPN commentator Jemele Hill in The Atlantic argued that the Trump administration put Olympic athletes in a difficult position.
“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) pushes the myth that the Olympics are meant to be a safe, apolitical space. Tell that to the American athletes at this year’s Winter Olympics who are being asked tough questions about the political and social turmoil in their home country,” she wrote.
Hill’s article also received criticism.
The only people who put Olympic athletes into awkward positions were journalists who insisted upon asking questions about politics at what should be a non-political event. https://t.co/6Kni3bWEbZ
— Peter Cook (@_Peter_Cook) February 23, 2026
🇺🇸You represent your country, or you shouldn’t represent your country.
— Alan F Jr (@AlanFJr) February 23, 2026
It’s not an individual competition, it’s a competition of nations. If you want the privilege, you have to acknowledge there is no higher privilege than being American. https://t.co/nAF95ZEkZc
It must be exhausting to constantly push a political agenda into sports while most of America is still celebrating the incredible overtime gold medal victory by USA hockey. https://t.co/CmFOsYAUv5
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) February 23, 2026
Because, you're not playing for a president. It's that simple. https://t.co/C5AzPWFFLG pic.twitter.com/9R8iMvs6aw
— Latent Development 🌐 (@Latent_Dev) February 23, 2026
How about doing it this way? Also, how about returning to “politics stops at the water’s edge”? If you are wearing the flag, speaking ill of your country or current admin (R or D) on foreign soil should be a non-starter. https://t.co/tp9oLI1D8o pic.twitter.com/0O61rdA1bu
— Don Curl (@jammaster0824) February 23, 2026
