President Donald Trump blasted US Olympic freestyle skier Hunter Hess as a “real loser” on Sunday after the athlete said he had “mixed emotions representing the US right now” at the Winter Games in Italy.
Hess Says Flag Doesn’t Equal Full Endorsement
“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. 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!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
According to a Fox News report from Saturday, Hess, a halfpipe skier from Bend, Oregon, told reporters last week that the political climate at home made competing under the US flag complicated. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US,” he said, adding that he has “mixed emotions” given policies he and “a lot of people” oppose.
“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,” Hess said. “I think for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe that are good about the US.”
Teammates, Officials Confront Politics And Online Abuse
His remarks came as several freestyle skiers fielded questions about US politics. Teammate Chris Lillis went further, citing tensions over federal immigration enforcement after two fatal shootings of US citizens in Minnesota. “A lot of times, athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things. I feel heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States,” Lillis said, urging the country to “focus on respecting everybody’s rights.”
A US Olympic and Paralympic Committee spokesperson said in a statement shared with ABC News, saying, “Our focus is on Hunter’s protection and on ensuring he has the support and resources in place to compete on the world’s largest stage,” noting the organization is also responding to a surge in abusive messages toward athletes. Figure skater Amber Glenn recently said she received a “scary amount” of hate and threats after speaking about LGBTQ+ rights under Trump’s administration.
Conservatives, Sanders Spar As Sports Stay Political
Conservative allies rallied behind Trump. “If you can’t say you love America while competing on behalf of our nation then you shouldn’t be at the Olympics,” Katie Miller, a Trump supporter and wife of senior adviser Stephen Miller, wrote on X. White House chief of protocol Monica Crowley reposted Trump’s message and added, “Represent America with pride or GTFO.”
The attack drew a sharp rebuke from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who defended Hess as a “proud American.” “Mr. President, this is not a monarchy. This is the United States and no one is required to bow down to you,” Sanders wrote on X.
Trump’s clash with Hess fits a yearslong pattern of battles with outspoken athletes, from calling on NFL owners to fire players who knelt during the national anthem to culture-war fights that have spilled into Olympic debates, including criticism of gymnast Simone Biles by now–Vice President J.D. Vance and Trump’s moves to bar transgender women from women’s sports, which reshaped eligibility rules heading into the 2028 and 2032 Games.
Image via Shutterstock/ Joey Sussman
Recent Comments