President Trump called a U.S. Olympic skier a “real loser” after the athlete publicly expressed conflicted feelings about representing America at the 2026 Winter Olympics amid ongoing political tensions over immigration enforcement.
Story Snapshot
- Hunter Hess, 27-year-old freestyle skier, stated he had “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S. at the Milano-Cortina Olympics due to domestic policy disagreements
- Trump responded on Truth Social Sunday morning, questioning whether Hess deserved a spot on Team USA if he couldn’t fully commit to representing the country
- The controversy erupted amid broader athlete protests against ICE operations and follows Vice President JD Vance being booed at the opening ceremony
- Multiple Team USA athletes have voiced opposition to immigration enforcement policies, creating a rift between patriotic expectations and personal conscience
- The incident reignites debate over athlete activism and whether Olympians can separate representing American ideals from endorsing specific government policies
The Skier Who Sparked Presidential Fury
Hunter Hess, an Oregon native competing in freestyle halfpipe skiing, found himself in the presidential crosshairs after a Wednesday press conference statement rippled through conservative circles. The 27-year-old told reporters he felt “mixed emotions” about wearing the stars and stripes in Italy, explaining his motivation came from friends, family, and personal values rather than national pride. Hess carefully avoided naming Trump or specific policies, yet his ambivalence struck a nerve. His halfpipe event is scheduled for February 19, giving this controversy plenty of time to simmer before he drops into the competition that could define his career for reasons having nothing to do with athletic performance.
Trump’s Truth Social Takedown
Sunday morning brought Trump’s characteristic bluntness to the situation. The president posted on Truth Social that Hess qualified as a “real loser” who shouldn’t occupy a Team USA roster spot if unwilling to fully represent the country. Trump punctuated his criticism with his signature rallying cry: “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” The timing proved strategic, coming after a weekend where Olympic tensions escalated from athlete statements to international embarrassment. Rich Grenell, serving as Kennedy Center head and Trump envoy, piled on by suggesting Hess should “move to Canada” if American representation proved too burdensome. The coordinated conservative response transformed what might have been a minor athlete comment into a full-blown patriotism litmus test.
A Broader Athlete Rebellion Against Immigration Enforcement
Hess wasn’t alone in his discontent, though his comments proved more measured than some teammates. Skier Chris Lillis explicitly criticized ICE operations in Minnesota following fatal incidents involving federal agents and individuals named Nicole, Alexti, and Pretti. British-American freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy went further with a blunt social media post: “f–k ICE.” Figure skater Amber Glenn, the first openly pansexual woman competing for Team USA, posted about limiting social media after receiving hate messages and threats. She vowed to continue speaking out despite the backlash. The athletes pointed to recent immigration crackdowns as moral crises they couldn’t ignore, even while competing under the Olympic Charter’s Rule 50 banning political protests at venues.
The Opening Ceremony That Set the Tone
Friday’s opening ceremony in Milan foreshadowed the week’s controversies when Vice President Vance encountered audible boos during Team USA’s entrance. The international audience’s reception highlighted how American political divisions play abroad, undermining the unified image typically projected at Olympic gatherings. NBC later denied editing the audio, though the network faced accusations of downplaying the incident. Team USA officials had already sensed trouble, rebranding their traditional Olympic hospitality venue from “Ice House” to “Winter House” to distance themselves from ICE connotations. The symbolic gesture acknowledged the elephant in the room while trying to maintain neutral ground impossible to hold once athletes started talking to reporters.
When Olympic Legends Join the Pile-On
Mike Eruzione, captain of the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team that defeated the Soviet Union, briefly entered the fray with a social media post suggesting athletes questioning their representational role shouldn’t wear the uniform. He deleted the post, but not before conservative commentators seized on the endorsement from Olympic royalty. Eruzione’s moment of hockey glory came during the Cold War when American athletic triumph carried explicit ideological weight against communism. His invocation of that era’s uncomplicated patriotism clashed with modern athletes navigating nuanced positions on domestic policy. The deleted post revealed even Olympic heroes feel caught between institutional loyalty expectations and contemporary political complexity that defies simple flag-waving solutions.
The Free Speech Versus National Pride Collision
The controversy exposes competing visions of what Olympic representation means in polarized times. Trump and conservative supporters view the Olympic uniform as demanding unconditional national pride, arguing that athletes receiving taxpayer-supported training and international platforms owe full-throated American boosterism. Critics of this position counter that athletes can represent American ideals like free expression and moral conscience without endorsing every government policy. Hess specifically stated he represents his values and community, not necessarily all national decisions. This distinction matters philosophically but collapses politically when presidents with massive megaphones decide nuance equals disloyalty. Social media predictably split along partisan lines, with Americans watching the same Olympics through entirely different ideological lenses neither side can reconcile.
President Trump Absolutely TORCHES Spoiled U.S. Olympic Athlete Who Whined That It was “Hard” to Represent America Due to ICE Crackdowns
— Twisted Eagle (@twisted_eagle) February 8, 2026
The U.S. Olympic Committee faces pressure from both directions while officially enforcing political neutrality per international rules. Sponsors may reconsider backing outspoken athletes, though Glenn’s promise to continue speaking suggests some Olympians prioritize conscience over commercial considerations. The long-term impact could reshape expectations for national team athletes, either chilling future political expression or normalizing activist athletes who compartmentalize sporting representation from policy endorsement. Either outcome fundamentally alters American Olympic culture built on the premise that wearing red, white, and blue meant something everyone agreed upon, an assumption these Milano-Cortina Games prove hopelessly outdated for a country that cannot agree on much of anything anymore.
Sources:
Trump Calls U.S. Olympic Skier ‘A Real Loser’ – Front Office Sports
Trump criticizes US skier over comments about representing America – SAN
Olympics 2026: Winter Games athletes protest Trump ICE policies – Axios
Trump criticizes Team USA athletes after voicing political beliefs before Olympic games – KFOX