Ski star Lindsey Vonn responds to Trump invite question

February 16, 2026 Oliver Obel

Lindsey Vonn is once again in recovery mode and once again answering questions that extend beyond ski racing.

The 41-year-old American star was forced out of the women’s downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, after a hard crash left her with a complex fracture of her left tibia. She was transported to Ca' Foncello Hospital in nearby Treviso, where she has undergone four surgeries. Vonn has said she expects to need two more procedures once she returns home to the United States.

The injury ended what had already been an ambitious comeback attempt. Just nine days before the Games, Vonn disclosed that she had completely torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during a World Cup race, describing it as “100 per cent” ruptured. She opted to compete anyway.

Race footage showed her right ski pole clip a timing gate during a jump, knocking her off balance. Officials did not link the fall to the earlier ACL injury.

Vonn entered the Games attempting to become the oldest alpine skier man or woman to win an Olympic medal. She won downhill gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and remains one of the most accomplished ski racers in U.S. history, with multiple World Cup titles and Olympic medals across her career.

Her teammate Breezy Johnson went on to win gold in the downhill. As is tradition, U.S. Olympic medalists are typically invited to the White House after the Games, though athletes are not required to attend.

A Familiar Question

In 2025, during an interview cited by The List, Vonn was asked whether she would accept a White House invitation if one were extended by President Donald Trump, who was serving a second term at the time.

“I just want to say that every Olympic athlete from Team USA is normally invited,” she said. “It has nothing to do with if you win a medal or not.

“I’m not going to answer that question because, I’m just not going to answer it. I want to keep my passport.”

She did not elaborate further. But the exchange revived memories of comments she made before the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea her final Games before her first retirement from competition.

In an interview with CNN during Trump’s first term, Vonn was unequivocal about skipping a potential White House visit.

“Absolutely not,” she said. “No.

“But I have to win to be invited. No, actually, I think every US team member is invited, so no, I won’t go.

“I hope to represent the people of the United States, not the President.

“I take the Olympics very seriously, and what they mean and what they represent. What walking under our flag means at opening ceremonies.

"I want to represent everybody well. I don't think that there are a lot of people currently in our government that do that."

Her remarks at the time generated widespread discussion, placing her among several high-profile athletes who publicly debated White House visits during Trump’s presidency.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=5Ad2pIlg3Dk&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportbible.com%2F

Tradition and debate

Inviting championship-winning teams and Olympic athletes to the White House has long been a bipartisan tradition in the United States. Attendance, however, is voluntary, and in recent years some athletes have declined invitations over political differences.

It remains unclear how many members of the current US Olympic team would attend if invited following the 2026 Games.

For now, Vonn’s focus is on recovery. After multiple surgeries in Italy and more procedures planned in the United States, the decorated skier faces another demanding rehabilitation as she weighs her future in the sport.

Sources: The List, CNN