US Skier Hunter Hess Faces Backlash from Donald Trump for Comments on Representing Country in Olympics
In a recent press conference, Olympic freestyle skier Hunter Hess expressed ambivalence about representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The skier's sentiments were sparked by the current state of affairs in the country, including ICE raids and geopolitical crises. Hess stated that while he was initially hesitant to represent his country due to these issues, he decided to participate after thinking about "what it means to me" to be an American.
Trump's response to Hess' comments has been scathing, labeling him a "real loser." The former President took to Truth Social to criticize the skier, stating that if Hess didn't believe in representing his country, then he shouldn't have tried out for the team. Trump also expressed frustration about rooting for someone like Hess, implying that they don't embody the values of America.
Hess' comments were not an isolated incident. Several Olympic athletes from Team USA have spoken out about their discomfort with representing the US due to its current political climate. US figure skating national champion Amber Glenn has been bombarded with hate messages and threats on social media after coming out as LGBTQ+, while two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin spoke out in support of diversity, kindness, and inclusivity.
The US Olympic & Paralympic Committee has acknowledged the abusive messages directed towards athletes and is working to protect them. The organization remains committed to the well-being and safety of Team USA athletes, both on and off the field.
As tensions rise between athletes and politicians over issues like representation and human rights, it raises questions about the role of sports in society. Can athletes be expected to set an example for their country's values when those values are under scrutiny? What responsibilities do athletes have towards their own identities and experiences, particularly if they feel uncomfortable representing their nation at large?
In a recent press conference, Olympic freestyle skier Hunter Hess expressed ambivalence about representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The skier's sentiments were sparked by the current state of affairs in the country, including ICE raids and geopolitical crises. Hess stated that while he was initially hesitant to represent his country due to these issues, he decided to participate after thinking about "what it means to me" to be an American.
Trump's response to Hess' comments has been scathing, labeling him a "real loser." The former President took to Truth Social to criticize the skier, stating that if Hess didn't believe in representing his country, then he shouldn't have tried out for the team. Trump also expressed frustration about rooting for someone like Hess, implying that they don't embody the values of America.
Hess' comments were not an isolated incident. Several Olympic athletes from Team USA have spoken out about their discomfort with representing the US due to its current political climate. US figure skating national champion Amber Glenn has been bombarded with hate messages and threats on social media after coming out as LGBTQ+, while two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin spoke out in support of diversity, kindness, and inclusivity.
The US Olympic & Paralympic Committee has acknowledged the abusive messages directed towards athletes and is working to protect them. The organization remains committed to the well-being and safety of Team USA athletes, both on and off the field.
As tensions rise between athletes and politicians over issues like representation and human rights, it raises questions about the role of sports in society. Can athletes be expected to set an example for their country's values when those values are under scrutiny? What responsibilities do athletes have towards their own identities and experiences, particularly if they feel uncomfortable representing their nation at large?
. It's like, what even is he trying to say? The guy's just expressing his own feelings about being an American, and now he's a "real loser" 
? I think it's kind of rich coming from someone who's been in power for so long and has shown such disdain for certain groups of people.
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I'm so tired of this whole situation... It's like, Hunter Hess was just trying to be honest about how he feels, and then Trump has to go and trash him. Like, what even is the point of Trump's comments? Does he really think it's okay to bully someone for expressing their thoughts? 
), I know how hard it is to balance your own identity with the pressure to perform and represent your team/ country. And now you're adding politics into it? It's like, athletes can't even breathe without someone judging them for something they have no control over. 
We need to start supporting each other instead of tearing each other down. 
it's like they're more worried about being liked than doing what's right... athletes are human beings too, with feelings and experiences that shouldn't be silenced 
So I was thinking... 
It's like, do we want our athletes to be ambassadors for a country that doesn't always support diversity & inclusivity? 
And what about the impact of social media hate messages & harassment on these athletes' mental health? 
It's like, we're supposed to be rooting for each other, but instead we're tearing each other down.
. I think it's time for athletes to speak up about the values they want to represent, and Trump just needs to chill out 
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I mean, athletes shouldn't be forced to represent their country if it doesn't feel authentic to them, you know? They have their own experiences and identities, and they should be able to express themselves without fear of backlash or hate messages 
. The US Olympic & Paralympic Committee is doing a good job trying to protect athletes, but we need more than that – we need systemic change 
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And to be honest, I don't blame Hunter Hess for feeling ambivalent about representing the US right now. The state of politics and society is pretty messed up 
. We need more people in positions of power being honest about what they believe in, rather than just spewing hate like Trump.
. That's not okay, period. The US Olympic Committee needs to do more than just acknowledge the abuse - they need to take action against it 
, but come on, he's gonna go after a skier who just wants to do his thing? It's like, Hunter Hess isn't trying to take down America or anything 
. We should've been talking about this stuff back in the day when athletes were starting to speak out, not just now when it's convenient for Trump to pretend like he cares.
. But seriously, athletes have a platform and it's up to them to use it for good... or at least to make us think about the issues we're facing 
This whole situation is getting weird 
, like can't we all just get along? 
? Athletes are human beings too, with feelings and experiences 
, they shouldn't be policed for their opinions or identities 
. It's like, we need more athletes speaking out about social issues, using their platform for good 
The Olympics should be a celebration of diversity and inclusivity 
. And what's with the hate messages? 
, they need to take responsibility for their actions 
. Let's focus on unity and positivity 
!
. We should be supporting them for being bold and standing up for themselves (and others) instead of tearing them down 
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Trump's just being a sore loser as usual... I mean, what did he expect? For us athletes to pretend everything is cool and go along with his drama? No way! We're representing our country on the world stage, not Trump's agenda. 
