President Donald Trump criticized U.S. Olympic freestyle skier Hunter Hess, 27, on Sunday, labeling him “a real Loser” after Hess shared his ambivalence about representing the United States at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.
“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this.”
This response from the president followed Hess’s comments at a press conference on Friday where he expressed “mixed emotions” about competing for Team USA due to the current political scenario in the United States.
Hess explained his struggle in representing the United States amid the ongoing political turbulence. He pointed out that there are several issues in the country that he and others do not support.
He further clarified that he perceives his Olympic participation as a reflection of his personal values and the supporters who backed him, rather than an endorsement of all U.S. policies. Hess mentioned that in his view, wearing the flag doesn’t equate to supporting everything happening in the country.
Hess is not the only American Olympian facing criticism for expressing political concerns. His colleague, Chris Lillis, also voiced his concern about recent immigration enforcement actions at the same press conference.
Lillis expressed his disappointment over the current situation in the United States, emphasizing the need for respect for everyone’s rights and treating all citizens with dignity. He said he hoped the public would perceive this as the America they aim to represent.
Amber Glenn, the first openly LGBTQ woman to skate for the U.S. at an Olympic event, discussed the challenges her community faces under the Trump administration. Following a significant amount of negative online feedback, she announced a reduction in her online presence for her personal well-being.
Prominent conservative figures and social media personalities have criticized the athletes’ comments. Richard Grenell, the Trump-appointed president of the Kennedy Center, suggested Hess should consider moving to Canada, while Republican Representative Tim Burchett from Tennessee told him to “shut up and go play in the snow.”
Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer with a following of 4.4 million on X, suggested Hess should leave the country if he doesn’t want to represent it. Shortly after posting his criticism, Paul was spotted next to Vice President JD Vance at the U.S. women’s hockey game in Milan.
Florida’s U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, endorsed by Trump for the upcoming gubernatorial race, joined in the criticism. Celebrity figures like former NFL quarterback Brett Favre and actor Rob Schneider also expressed their disapproval of the athletes.
This controversy unfolds amid political tensions at the Olympics. Vice President Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance were booed at the opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro Stadium on Friday. President Trump was not present at the ceremony.
Protests broke out in Milan over rumors of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents being deployed at the Olympics. U.S. Ambassador to Italy and San Marino, Tilman J. Fertitta, later clarified that Homeland Security Investigations personnel would serve in an advisory and intelligence-based capacity, with no involvement in patrolling or enforcement.”
Gus Kenworthy, a British-American skier competing for Great Britain, posted on Instagram a graphic image showing the words “**** ICE” written in snow. “Innocent people have been murdered, and enough is enough,” Kenworthy wrote. “We can’t wait around while ICE continues to operate with unchecked power in our communities.”
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee addressed the rising online harassment in a statement on Sunday, affirming their commitment to the athletes’ well-being and safety. They reported removing content and reporting credible threats to law enforcement.
The Trump administration has been criticized both domestically and internationally for its immigration enforcement efforts, including the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last month—Renée Good and Alex Pretti—by federal immigration officers.
When asked about the political tensions, alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin quoted former South African leader Nelson Mandela: “Peace is not just the absence of conflict, peace is the creation of an environment where we can all flourish, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference.”
