US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized American Olympic skier Hunter Hess, calling him a “real loser” after Hess expressed discomfort with representing the United States at the current Winter Games in Italy amid the nation’s political divisions.
During a press conference, Hess, an Oregon native, stated he has “mixed emotions” about competing for the U.S. “There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” he said. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.”
Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, arguing that Hess should not be on the team if he does not fully support the country. “US Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” Trump wrote. “If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team… Very hard to root for someone like this.”
The president’s post followed criticism from other Republican figures. Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett suggested Hess should “shut up and go play in the snow,” and former White House official Monica Crowley said he should “represent America with pride.” Conversely, independent Senator Bernie Sanders described Hess as a “proud American.”
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) stated it “stands firmly behind Team USA athletes,” emphasizing its priority is Hess’s protection and ensuring he has support to compete.
Hess’s comments emerge against a backdrop of heightened domestic political tension. Widespread protests have occurred in multiple cities following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis earlier this year. The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have sparked national demonstrations and intensified debate over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
The incident highlights the ongoing friction between athlete expression and political expectations during international sporting events. While the USOPC has reaffirmed its support for Hess, the exchange underscores how geopolitical disputes frequently infiltrate the Olympic sphere, placing athletes at the center of broader ideological debates. Hess is scheduled to compete in the men’s alpine skiing events later in the Games.
