President Donald Trump took aim at American freestyle skier Hunter Hess, one of the United States’ representatives at the ongoing 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, after the athlete expressed reservations about donning the stars and stripes amid the nation’s polarized political landscape. The president’s pointed rebuke, posted on his Truth Social platform, highlighted a moment of tension between national pride and personal conviction as the Games unfold.
U.S. 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!
— Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) February 8, 2026
(TS:…
In his post, Trump wrote, “U.S. 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!”
The remarks came in response to an interview Hess gave earlier during the Olympics, where the 27-year-old opened up about the internal conflict he felt while preparing for his events in the halfpipe discipline. A member of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team since 2017 and a two-time X Games medalist, Hess had qualified for his first Olympic appearance after a decade of grinding through training setbacks, including a serious crash just months before the selection trials. Speaking to reporters on the eve of his competition, he said, “It brings up mixed emotions to represent the US 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 feel the same way. For me, it’s more about representing my friends and family back home, the people who represented before me, and all the things I believe are good about the US. 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 US, so I really just want to do it for my friends, my family, and the people who supported me in getting here.”
What a disappointing message by USA Olympic Skier Hunter Hess.
— Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) February 7, 2026
You can proud of your country and not support the sitting presidents policies.
Olympians like @MensahTamStock celebrated with class. pic.twitter.com/FLLkeFfJ4M
The exchange arrived at a pivotal moment in the Olympics’ early days, with Hess slated to compete in the men’s halfpipe qualifying rounds later this week. Trump’s response, delivered just as preliminary events wrapped up over the weekend, amplified the story across social media and cable news, prompting supporters to rally behind the president while critics decried it as an unfair attack on an athlete focused on performance under pressure.
As the U.S. delegation pushes for a strong showing to build on its 27-medal haul from the 2022 Beijing Games, incidents like this one illustrate the delicate balance Olympians must strike between their craft and the weight of representation in an era where every statement can spark a firestorm. With the halfpipe finals still ahead, all eyes will turn back to the snow, where Hess’s jumps could either quiet the noise or fuel further conversation on what it truly means to compete for one’s country.
