President Donald Trump called U.S. Olympian Hunter Hess a “real loser” Sunday in response to the freestyle skier’s Friday remark that representing the United States in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy is leaving him with “mixed emotions.” In addition to calling Hess a “loser,” Trump wrote on social media that the 27-year-old “shouldn’t have tried out” for Team U.S.A.
While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintains that the games are apolitical, increasing tension back home, much of it stemming from immigration policy, has prompted critical responses from some American Olympians. And in response, Trump is breaking with a longstanding tradition of U.S. leaders supporting the athletes who represent the country.
“I think it brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now,” Hess, a two-time X Games bronze medalist, said during a news conference Friday. “There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t. I think, for me, it’s more I’m representing my, like, friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S.”
Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
U.S. OLYMPIAN hunter hess
Hess added that “just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. “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.”
But Hess isn’t alone. He’s one of several American athletes competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics to acknowledge having the same mixed emotions Hess says he has.
In the same news conference, Hess’ teammate Chris Lillis, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said he “feels heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States.” He said, “I think that as a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating as well as anybody, with love and respect.”
Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn said it’s “been a hard time” particularly for the LGBTQ community under the Trump administration.
“It isn’t the first time that we’ve had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights. And now especially, it’s not just affecting the queer community, but many other communities,” Glenn said, adding that “politics affects us all and it is not just something that I’ll be quiet about.”
Erum Salam is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW, with a focus on how global events and foreign policy shape U.S. politics. She previously was a breaking news reporter for The Guardian.