Trump Calls Olympics Skier a ‘Loser’ Over Comments About Representing U.S.

President Donald Trump called U.S. Olympic skier Hunter Hess a “real loser” following comments Hess made about representing America at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

Speaking ahead of the opening ceremonies, Hess said, “I think it brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It’s a little hard. 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 friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S.”

Hess, a first-time Olympian in the freestyle skiing halfpipe event, added, “I just think, if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.” Hess didn’t specify what exactly he’s “not the biggest fan of.”

The skier’s comments somehow came to the attention of the president, who lashed out at Hess on Truth Social on Sunday.

“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” Trump wrote 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. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Hess isn’t the only U.S. Olympian to open up about competing amid issues with the Trump administration to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“I love the USA and I think I would never want to represent a different country in the Olympics,”  U.S. aerials freestyle skier Chris Lillis, who won a gold medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, told USA Today. “With that being said, a lot of times athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things. I feel heartbroken about what’s happened in the United States. .. I think that as a country we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect.”

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu, who has shared anti-ICE messages on social media, said, “I just want us to share stories, because I think we’re all very unique, and I think that’s what it’s about.”