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Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Olympics, Sport
Callum Jones
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Olympics, Sport
President Donald Trump has hit out at an athlete competing for Team USA at the Winter Olympics after the Olympian discussed 'mixed emotions' about representing the country at the Milano Cortina 2026 games.
The Winter Olympics commenced with the opening ceremony on Friday (February 6), and it's certainly been an eventful weekend for the US team.
First of all, Vice President JD Vance was booed at the San Siro, while Lindsey Vonn suffered a horrific crash at the alpine ski event on Sunday (February 8).
However, a spat has since broken out between Trump and Hunter Hess, a Team USA freeskier. At the press conference for the freeski team, Hess spoke about how it feels to represent the US amidst the current climate, revealing that he's 'not the biggest fan' of everything that is happening.
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The 27-year-old athlete said: "It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now. 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."
Talking about 'trying to bring some unity' to the US, the Olympian continued: "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 US I just think if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I'm representing it."
The President has since taken to his Truth Social account to criticise the athlete, claiming that it's difficult to 'root for someone like this'.
Trump wrote: "US Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. 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 wasn't the only person to share his thoughts on the tensions in the US, as other Team USA athletes have responded, including the women's halfpipe team.
Bea Kim shared a similar sentitment to Hess, as she said: "I think there are a lot of different opinions in the U.S. right now. Obviously, we're very divided.
"I personally am very proud to represent the United States. That being said, I think diversity is what makes us a very strong country and what makes us so special."
Meanwhile, Chloe Kim, whose parents emigrated to the US from South Korea, added: "I'm really proud to represent the United States. It's given my family and I so much opportunity.
"But I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions of what's going on. And I think that we should lead with love and compassion. And I'd love to see more of that."
Hess's fellow freeski teammate, Chris Lillis, also expressed his 'hearbreak' at 'what's happening in the United States', adding: "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.
"I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize that's the America that we're trying to represent."