President Donald Trump bashed Team USA Olympic skier Hunter Hess for expressing “mixed emotions” while representing the Stars and Stripes at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic games.
“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” Trump posted to Truth Social Sunday morning.
“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. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Multiple Olympians — including US figure skater Amber Glenn and British-American skier Gus Kenworthy — have criticized the Trump administration at this year’s Games, particularly for its polarizing approach to immigration enforcement.
But it was the 27-year-old Hess, a fixture on the US national team since 2017, who received a direct response from the Commander in Chief.
Speaking with reporters on Friday, Team USA skiers — particularly Hess — sparked controversy by explaining that wearing the American flag doesn’t signify his support of everything “going on” back in the States.
“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the US right now,” said the freestyle skier. “It’s a little hard, there’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and I think a lot of people aren’t.
“Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US,” he emphasized.
Added his teammate, Chris Lillis: “I’m heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States. I think that as a country we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we are treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect. I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize that that’s the America that we’re trying to represent.”
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Hess’s comments were met with stern pushback on social media, seemingly evoking a response from former Olympic silver medalist MyKayla Skinner.
Skinner, who memorably had a falling out with former gymnastics teammate Simone Biles, presumably fired back in a recent post on Instagram.
“Was always proud to represent America and wear our flag,” the caption reads. “I will never take for granted the opportunity I had to compete on Team USA.”
Hess also drew criticism from Mike Eruzione, the former “Miracle on Ice” captain from the 1980 US men’s team.
“Hunter Hess US snowboarder saying he doesn’t represent his country but his family and friends,” Eruzione wrote in a since-deleted post on X. “Then don’t put on the USA uniform maybe just put for family and friends some athletes just don’t get it.”
