Just when you thought US world relations can't get much worse, this happens.
The CNN headline reads: Italians furious over deployment of ICE agents to bolster US security at Winter Olympics. The current administration thinks it is a good idea to send ICE to the Winter Games in Italy to help out with security. The rest of the world, not so much.
Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist US security operations at the Winter Olympics next month.
Current and former lawmakers have urged Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to intervene to block the agents’ presence in the wake of two fatal shootings during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the reports in a statement to CNN on Tuesday.
ICE will serve “a security role” at the Olympics, a DHS spokesperson said. “They don’t do immigration enforcement (operations) in a foreign country, obviously,” the spokesperson said.
Of course the Italians are not happy.
The former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte urged the country’s government to “set our own limits” and “make clear decisions.”
“After street violence and murders in the US, we now learn from their spokesperson that ICE agents will come to Italy to ensure security at the Milan-Cortina Olympics,” Conte posted on X on Tuesday, referring to reports quoting ICE in Italian media.
“We cannot allow this,” he added. “Our government tried to downplay the situation, but these latest statements speak clearly of ICE’s determination to come and ensure ‘security’ in Italy as well. Enough with the bowing,” Conte added.
I can’t even wrap my head around how this makes any sense. There are agents trained to work security in foreign places, and some who may even know Italian. The only conceivable thing is that somehow this is because ICE is Trump’s private SS police force and/or Noem convinced Trump it was smart so she and others at the top might be able to go to the Olympics on the taxpayers’ dime. Fortunately, it seems any big wigs are bound to get an icy reception, much like Ivanka would get when she went to big things she didn’t belong to.
I don't understand the logic behind this move. For almost 100 years, the US has participated in the Olympics without the need for a private police force like ICE. This will not be a good look for the US on the world stage, especially in Europe.
I don't understand the logic behind this move. For almost 100 years, the US has participated in the Olympics without the need for a private police force like ICE. This will not be a good look for the US on the world stage, especially in Europe.
It'll be the greatest protection in the entire history of our country. The protection will help make America great again, and we will proudly win all the gold medals or the world will pay for it one way or another. No other President has done as much as I have for the safety of the Olympics. I'll go down in history as the greatest protector of ICE there has ever been. Many are saying how smart I am to do this. They just keep texting me and phoning me congratulating me on doing this great thing. My Twitter account almost had to be closed down due to how heavy the traffic was in congratulations from all over the world. This great kind of protection is not had anywhere else in the world, just here in our own great nation.
Last edited by Philo Sofee on Wed Jan 28, 2026 5:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
I don't understand the logic behind this move. For almost 100 years, the US has participated in the Olympics without the need for a private police force like ICE. This will not be a good look for the US on the world stage, especially in Europe.
My understanding is that DHS has provided similar security at past Olympics. I don’t know which branch provided the security. Personally, I think the Secret Service would make more sense. Security is what they are trained in.
he/him
“I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time so that my children can live in peace.” — Thomas Paine
