UPDATE: The Team USA Olympic Athletes Report Severe Travel Difficulties as EU Visa Restrictions and Sanctions on the U.S. Deepen Transatlantic Tensions Over Donald Trump’s Greenland Ambitions

Overview
In an unfolding diplomatic dispute that is straining relations between the United States and the European Union, members of the U.S. Olympic team report significant travel difficulties when preparing to travel to Europe for competitions and training ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games. According to recent social-media reports, these travel obstacles are being linked to tighter EU visa scrutiny and reciprocal sanctions, which are part of an escalating political standoff tied in part to President Donald Trump’s controversial push to assert U.S. influence over Greenland. �
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Allegations of Travel Problems
While official statements from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) are still outstanding, several athletes and support staff have taken to social platforms reporting delays at EU consulates, longer-than-expected visa processing times, and confusing entry requirements that they say jeopardize their ability to attend training camps, qualifying events, and pre-Games tournaments. Many describe the situation as a bureaucratic burden, rather than simple travel inconvenience. �
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These difficulties come at an already congested time for international travel: the EU’s Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated border control system for third-country nationals, has been rolling out fully across the bloc and is expected to be in place by early April 2026, replacing historic passport stamp procedures with digital tracking that some travelers find unfamiliar and slow. �
Wikipedia
What’s Behind the Visa Tension?
EU’s Security and Visa Strategy
In the context of broader geopolitical uncertainty, the European Union has been reassessing visa processing guidelines and foreign travel policies as part of its new visa strategy and migration policy reforms, which include potential visa suspensions or tighter scrutiny in response to “hostile actions by third countries” that could undermine EU security — a category some interpret to include punitive measures by the U.S. government. �
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Reciprocal Sanctions and EU–U.S. Dispute
Relations between Brussels and Washington have been increasingly strained by a series of visa bans and sanctions imposed by both sides. For example, the United States recently imposed visa restrictions on several high-profile European figures, including a former European Commissioner for the EU internal market, in a dispute over digital rules and alleged censorship issues. These U.S. sanctions drew sharp criticism from EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who described the measures as “intimidation” and an attack on European sovereignty. �
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Though these actions were not specifically targeted at athletes, officials say they contribute to an atmosphere of mistrust that may complicate routine diplomatic cooperation — including the processing of athlete visas and authorizations.
Greenland Controversy Deepens Dispute
A significant backdrop to this tension is President Trump’s 2025–26 attempts to assert U.S. influence over Greenland, a Danish territory with historic and legal ties to the EU. Trump’s public statements that Greenland “may be something we should seriously look at owning” sparked protests in Denmark and Greenland, condemnation from EU states, and threats of retaliatory economic measures — including potential tariffs against EU allies that oppose the idea. �
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That conflict prompted Operation Arctic Endurance, a European defense posture exercise, and indications that several EU countries were considering sanctions and trade reprisals over the U.S.’s hardline approach. �
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While President Trump later backed down from military or tariff threats during talks at the World Economic Forum, the episode intensified mistrust and fed a broader narrative in EU capitals that U.S. policy under the Trump administration is increasingly unilateral — complicating cooperation on everything from trade to visa facilitation. �
Wikipedia
Official Responses & Athletics Exemptions
It’s worth noting that the U.S. State Department has carved out specific visa exemptions for athletes, coaches, and staff participating in major sporting events such as the World Cup or Olympic Games, to ensure they are not subject to broad travel bans that apply to nearly 40 countries. However, these exemptions do not cover all support personnel, spectators, media, or ancillary travel needs, and do not address reciprocal EU-side policy changes. �
AP News
What This Means for the Olympic Team
For Team USA athletes, the uncertainty has two immediate impacts:
Practical hurdles — changing visa requirements and digital border systems are delaying travel plans, potentially disrupting training and competition schedules. �
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Political climate — the wider diplomatic tensions are creating an unpredictable environment for U.S. delegations travelling abroad — not just athletes, but coaching staff, families, and officials.
Officials from USOPC and the U.S. State Department have yet to publicly confirm the full nature or scale of these difficulties, and it is unclear whether the EU’s visa policy changes are directly aimed at U.S. nationals or are a by-product of broader, security-oriented migration policy reforms. However, with global competition calendars tightening and the Olympics approaching, the issue remains a top concern for athletes and sports administrators alike.