Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn has insisted that she will not be celebrating her Winter Olympic gold medal victory at the White House.
The 26-year-old, who made history as an out pansexual athlete, confirmed she would not be joining the traditional celebratory visit hosted by President Donald Trump.
Speaking to Us Weekly at the GLAAD Media Awards on March 5, Glenn stood firm in her decision to distance herself from the current administration.
‘I’m electing not to either, so I do not blame them whatsoever,’ Glenn said, referring to other athletes, who also turned down the invite.
‘It is our right to be able to choose what we do and don’t endorse, and I think it is a decision that each individual has the right to make,’ she continued.
Last month, Glenn revealed she would be taking a break from social media after receiving a ‘scary amount of hate’ for condemning Trump over his treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.
Glenn addressed the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on LGBTQ+ Americans at a press conference for the Winter Games in Italy.
The 26-year-old told reporters it has been a ‘hard time’ for the community, while insisting she wants to use her platform to ‘try and encourage people to stay strong’.
Yet just days on from that speech about America’s political climate, Glenn said she is stepping back from her social channels after being threatened online.
‘When I chose to utilize one of the amazing things about the United States of America (Freedom of speech) to convey how I feel as an athlete competing for Team USA in a troubling time for many Americans I am now receiving a scary amount of hate/threats for simply using my voice WHEN ASKED about how I feel,’ she wrote in a post on Instagram.
‘I did anticipate this but I am disappointed by it. I will be limiting my time on social media for my own wellbeing for now but I will never stop using my voice for what I believe in.’
Glenn’s comments come after Trump signed an executive order in early 2025 banning transgender women from competing against biological females in sporting competitions. His administration has also introduced measures which impact how federal agencies address health care programs and policies affecting LGBTQ+ Americans.
During her press conference, Glenn also spoke about the importance of using her platform to raise political issues.
‘I know that a lot of people will say: ‘You’re just an athlete, stick to your job and shut up about politics,’ but politics affects us all,’ she said. ‘It’s something that I will not just be quiet about, because it is something that affects us in our everyday lives.
‘So of course there are things that I disagree with, but as a community, we are strong and we support each other, and brighter days are ahead of us.’
Last month, Team USA’s women’s hockey team declined an invitation to visit the White House – despite winning a historic gold medal after a final win over Canada.
Meanwhile, five members of Team USA’s men’s hockey roster did not attend the team’s visit to the White House and Trump’s State of the Union last month.
