The 2026 Winter Olympics have sparked a sharp debate over national pride and political identity following comments made by Fox News host Greg Gutfeld.
During a segment on “The Five” this Monday, Gutfeld criticized progressive media outlets for what he described as an inability to celebrate American achievement without a political litmus test.
The discussion was prompted by a recent HuffPost article regarding the Games, which suggested that some viewers might find waving the American flag or chanting “USA!” to be off-putting in the current social climate.
Gutfeld argued that this perspective highlights a fundamental disconnect between media critics and the broader world. He suggested that if the political landscape were different—specifically if former Vice President Kamala Harris were in the White House—the coverage of the Olympics would have shifted away from athletic performance and toward identity politics.
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Gutfeld speculated that such an administration would have prioritized political messaging over sports, stating, “She would have sent Rachel Levine to the locker room to celebrate gold and trans in the locker room at the same time.”
The conversation turned to specific athletes, including figure skater Alysa Liu, who secured a historic gold medal for the United States on Thursday.
Liu’s victory marked the first time an American woman has won the top prize in the event since Sarah Hughes in 2002. She finished with a combined total of 214.91 points, a significant milestone after her two-year hiatus from the sport following the 2022 Beijing Games.
Gutfeld noted that while some critics questioned how conservatives could support Liu due to her perceived “woke” views, he saw it as a “self-own” for the left. He insisted that conservatives are capable of cheering for winners regardless of their political leanings, whereas he claimed critics at outlets like HuffPost cannot celebrate someone unless they align politically.
Gutfeld further accused progressive commentators of having a sheltered worldview. He dismissed the idea that the left is more “cultured” or “worldly” than the rest of the country, arguing instead that many critics lack actual global context.
According to Gutfeld, people who travel the world—including the athletes themselves—quickly realize the unique benefits of living in America. He remarked that many critics mistake eating at local ethnic restaurants for true global awareness, while ignoring the limitations found in other nations.
“They know nothing about the actual world, or they would love this place,” Gutfeld said, concluding that the desire of people worldwide to move to the United States contradicts the “shame on America” narrative often found in progressive commentary.
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