Olympic athlete Hunter Hess has spoken out after U.S. President Donald Trump labelled him a “real loser.”
The 27-year-old freestyle skier caught the president’s wrath after saying he has “mixed emotions” about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics during a Friday press conference.
Hess said he’s “not the biggest fan” of some things happening in the U.S., a statement that Trump and his team of supporters attacked the skier for—even telling him to move out of the country.
Highlights
- Hunter Hess faced criticism from President Trump after expressing mixed emotions about representing the U.S. at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
- Trump and his allies told Hess to leave the country, with harsh comments from figures like Richard Grenell and Jake Paul.
- Hess responded by affirming his love for the U.S. and emphasizing the importance of free speech and unity during the Olympics.
- Fellow athletes Chloe Kim, Eileen Gu, and Chris Lillis publicly supported Hess, calling for compassion and respect.
Hunter Hess responded to Trump after he called him a ‘real loser’
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“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. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US,” Hess said on Friday.
“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!” Trump wrote.
Trump’s allies also added to the bullying of the athlete. Richard Grenell suggested Hess should leave the U.S. if he isn’t proud to represent his country, telling him to “Move to Canada.”
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Florida Congressman Byron Donalds told Hess to “go home” if he found the role too difficult. Boxer Jake Paul said, “If you don’t want to represent this country, go live somewhere else.”
The skier responded on his Instagram on Monday, captioning an image of himself, “I love my country 🇺🇸.”
“There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better. One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out,” Hess wrote.
“The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete. Thanks to everyone for their support,” he concluded.
Hess’ teammate, Chloe Kim, an Olympic snowboarder, defended the skier, telling reporters, “We need to lead with love and compassion, and I’d love to see more of that,” The Athletic noted.
She added, “Obviously, my parents being immigrants, this one hits pretty close to home.”
“It’s important in moments like these for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another with what’s going on,” Kim told The New York Times. “I’m really proud to represent the United States. The U.S. has given my family so much opportunity, but I also think we are allowed to voice our opinions on what’s going on.”
Chloe Kim and Eileen Gu also came to Hess’ defense
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Even a Chinese athlete condemned the American president’s comments about Hess. Chinese Olympic star Eileen Gu, who was born in the U.S. but is competing for China, said she was disappointed that the buzz surrounding the Olympics was about Trump rather than supporting the sports.
“I’m sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so—unrelated to the spirit of the Games,” the two-time gold medalist told The Athletic.
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Gu, who has faced criticism for her decision to leave the U.S. team to represent China, said she empathized with Hess. “As someone who has got caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes,” she said. “I hope that they can ski to their very best.”
Hess’ teammate, Chris Lillis, also said at Friday’s news conference, “A lot of times, athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things. I feel heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States.”
He added, “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.”
Image credits: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
“I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize that that’s the America that we’re trying to represent,” Lillis added.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee acknowledged the situation and said it is working to support and protect athletes.
“The USOPC stands firmly behind Team USA athletes and remains committed to their well-being and safety, both on and off the field of play,” it said in a statement.