US President Donald Trump criticized first-time Olympian Hunter Hess on Sunday (local time), days after Hess spoke out against the Trump administration’s policy priorities.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “U.S. Olympic skier Hunter Hess, a real underdog, says he’s not representing his country in the current Winter Olympics. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the team, and it’s a shame he’s on it. It’s very hard to root for someone like that. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Who is Hunter Hess?
Hess, a first-time Olympic skier, is from Bend, Oregon. Before the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Italy on February 6, Hess said he felt like he was representing aspects of his country “as long as it’s in line with my moral values”. But he made it clear he’s “not the biggest fan” of anything going on in Washington, Politico reported.
Hess said, “It’s kind of hard. Obviously there’s a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t. … Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.” He added that he represents his family and friends more.
Republicans criticize Hunter Hess
Reports suggest Trump wasn’t the only one criticizing the 27-year-old athlete. In a post shared on X, Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds attacked Hess, writing: “You chose to carry our flag. You chose to represent our country. You chose to compete in the @Olympics. If it’s too hard for you, go HOME. Some things are bigger than politics. You just don’t get it.”
Another Republican, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), called on the former Olympian to “shut up and go play in the snow.”
Several athletes criticize America’s political climate
His remarks came as several freestyle skiers on Team USA fielded questions related to the current political situation in the US. While American athletes compete for gold on the world stage, some also use their visibility to speak out against certain White House policies outside of the competition arena.
Fellow freestyle skier and gold medalist Chris Lilis recently said he is “heartbroken” after recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Lilis said that athletes are often hesitant to express their political views and how they feel about certain things, adding that he is heartbroken by what is happening in his country. Before noting that she loves the US and would “never want to represent another country in the Olympics,” Lilis said, “as a country we need to focus on respecting everyone’s rights and making sure we treat our citizens just like anyone else, with love and respect.
Figure skater Amber Glenn said at a press conference that the LGBTQ+ community is having a “tough time” under the Trump administration, adding that it has taken several steps that LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have criticized, including closing a crisis hotline specifically for the community. She said: “I know a lot of people say, ‘You’re just an athlete. Stick to your job. Shut up about politics,’ but politics affects us all,” Glenn said. “It’s something I’m not just going to be quiet about because it’s something that affects us in our daily lives.”
According to a Politico report, while the Olympics have often taken place against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, the 2026 games have taken on an overtly political tone as Trump’s policies threaten to hinder a long-term partnership with Europe.
