U.S. Olympic Skier Hunter Hess Addresses Trump's Social Media Outburst
American freestyle skier Hunter Hess has broken his silence following former President Donald Trump's social media tirade regarding the athlete's expressed "mixed emotions" about representing Team USA at this year's Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
Hess's Patriotic Declaration on Instagram
"I love my country," Hess declared in an Instagram post on Monday. "There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better. One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out."
The athlete continued with a message of unity, stating: "The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete. Thanks to everyone for their support."
Trump's "Real Loser" Comment on Truth Social
Hess's post comes just one day after the former president launched a verbal attack on his Truth Social platform, calling the skier "a real loser." Trump misrepresented Hess's earlier comments, falsely claiming the athlete said "he doesn't represent his Country" before adding, "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."
Hess's Original Comments on Representing America
Last week, Hess shared his conflicted feelings about wearing the red, white and blue at the upcoming games, explaining to reporters that "there's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't."
The skier clarified his perspective, stating: "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 are good about the U.S." Hess is competing in his first Winter Olympics this year, having recently placed second in the Aspen Snowmass Men's Freeski Halfpipe Finals during the Toyota US Grand Prix 2026.
Conservative Backlash Extends Beyond Hess
The controversy has sparked reactions from various conservative figures. YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul wrote on X just before attending a U.S. women's hockey game with Vice President JD Vance: "Wow pls shut the fuck up From all true Americans If you don't want to represent this country go live somewhere else."
Hess is not alone in facing criticism for expressing concerns about American life under the Trump administration. Figure skater Amber Glenn, the first openly queer woman to represent the U.S. in Olympic figure skating, announced she would be stepping back from social media following what she described as a "scary amount of hate/threats" over comments she made about competing at the games.
Glenn, who helped secure team gold for the U.S. on Sunday, told reporters it has been "a hard time" for the LGBTQ+ community under the Trump administration and emphasized the need to "support each other in a way that we didn't have to before."
The situation highlights the ongoing tension between athletes' personal perspectives and political expectations as they prepare to compete on the world stage at the Winter Olympics.
