Trump calls Hunter Hess ‘a real loser’ for skier’s ambivalence about representing US | Winter Olympics 2026
Donald Trump responded to Hunter Hess on Truth Social on Sunday, calling the Olympian a “real loser” and criticizing comments made by the American freestyle skier during a press conference days earlier.
Hess was asked at a news conference Wednesday what it was like to represent the United States in the Olympics given the current situation in the country, which includes ICE raids in Minnesota and a number of geopolitical crises. Hess said representing the United States in the 2026 Winter Olympics brought “mixed emotions” and was “a little difficult.”
“There’s obviously a lot of stuff going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” he said. “I think for me it’s more about representing my friends and family back home, the people who represented it before me, everything that I believe is good about the United States… Just because I carry the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the United States.”
Trump made his anger clear on Sunday, characterizing Hess’ comments as, “He’s not representing his country in the current Winter Olympics. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have been on the team, and it’s a shame he’s on the team. Very hard to cheer for someone like him. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump’s criticism follows that of Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett, who said in an article on X that Hess should “shut up and go play in the snow.”
Hess is one of a handful of Team USA Olympians who have expressed discomfort with representing their country in its current state, and who have subsequently faced criticism.
US national figure skating champion Amber Glenn said she will be taking a break from all social media after being inundated with what she called “a frightening amount of hate/threats”.
Glenn, who spoke out publicly in 2019, was asked what it was like to be part of the LGBTQ community under the Trump administration.
“This has been a difficult time for the community as a whole and for this administration,” Glenn said. “This is not the first time we have had to come together as a community and try to fight for our human rights. »
Without specifically mentioning Trump’s policies, two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin read a quote from Nelson Mandela expressing hope that “we can all thrive regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social marker of difference” when asked about the representation of the United States in the current political climate. She then added her own words: “For me, when it comes to the Olympics, I really hope to show up and represent my own values. Of diversity, kindness and sharing. Tenacity, work ethic, being there with my team every day.
