Trump Clashes with Team USA Skier Over Representation Remarks
President Donald Trump took to social media to address comments made by Team USA skier Hunter Hess regarding the challenges of representing the United States during a politically charged climate.
“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” Trump, 79, posted on February 8. “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!”
Hess, who is set to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, expressed his conflicted feelings about representing the U.S. amidst ongoing political strife, particularly in light of recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that have led to tragic outcomes for some citizens.
“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now,” Hess stated during a press conference on February 6, just before the Olympic Winter Games opening ceremony. “It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of... Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
Hess's sentiments were echoed by fellow skier Chris Lillis, who openly criticized the ICE raids during the same media event.
“I feel heartbroken when it comes to what’s happening in the United States,” said Lillis, who secured a gold medal in team aerials at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. “I think as a country we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens, as well as everybody, with love and respect. And I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize that that’s the America we’re trying to represent.”
Lillis added, “I love the USA and I think I would never want to represent a different country in the Olympics. With that being said, a lot of times athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things.”
In a related note, figure skater Amber Glenn has reportedly faced death threats after sharing her experiences as an LGBTQ+ athlete representing the United States.
“It’s been a hard time for the community overall in this administration,” Glenn remarked. “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. I think that we are able to support each other in a way that we didn’t have to before, and because of that, it’s made us a lot stronger.”
Glenn emphasized her commitment to using her platform for advocacy during the Games.
“I hope I can use my platform and my voice throughout these Games to try and encourage people to stay strong in these hard times,” she continued. “I know that a lot of people say, ‘You’re just an athlete, like, stick to your job, shut up about politics,’ but politics affect us all.”
She concluded with determination: “It is something that I will not just be quiet about because it is something that affects us in our everyday lives. So, of course, there are things that I disagree with, but as a community, we are strong and we support each other, and brighter days are ahead of us.”
