On Sunday, February 8, 2026, President Donald Trump publicly criticized U.S. Olympic freestyle skier Hunter Hess, labeling him a “real loser” following the athlete’s comments regarding the current political climate in the United States.
The friction began during a news conference in Milan on Friday, February 6, where Hess and teammate Chris Lillis were asked about representing the U.S. amid recent domestic policies, specifically involving aggressive immigration enforcement. Hess, a 27-year-old from Oregon, stated he had “mixed emotions” about wearing the flag, adding that while he is proud to represent his family and those who supported his journey, “wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
Presidential Response and Public Backlash
The president utilized his Truth Social platform to issue a sharp rebuke of the Olympian, sparking a firestorm of online debate during the first week of the Milano Cortina Games.
The “Truth” 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.”
Supporting Criticism: The president’s comments were echoed by several conservative figures. Former “Miracle on Ice” captain Mike Eruzione also questioned Hess’s stance, suggesting that athletes who are not proud to represent the country should not put on the uniform. YouTuber Jake Paul, who was seen sitting with Vice President JD Vance at an Olympic hockey game shortly after, posted that those who do not want to represent the country should “go live somewhere else.”
Athlete Safety: Following the president’s post, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) issued a statement on Sunday. The committee noted an “increasing amount of abusive and harmful messages” directed at Team USA athletes and affirmed its commitment to their safety and well-being.
Political Context in Milan 2026
The controversy involving Hess is part of a broader trend of political tension overshadowing the sports themselves.
| Event / Figure | Incident Detail |
| JD Vance | The Vice President was met with audible boos and whistles from the crowd when shown on stadium screens during the Opening Ceremony. |
| Chris Lillis | The freestyle skier stated he was “heartbroken” by recent domestic developments and urged for more respect for human rights. |
| Amber Glenn | The figure skater reported receiving a “scary amount of hate” after speaking about challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. |
| Local Protests | Large demonstrations in Milan have targeted the presence of U.S. Homeland Security investigators (HSI), which some protesters initially mistook for ICE enforcement agents. |
Hess, a two-time X Games medalist, remains in the Olympic village as he prepares for the men’s freeski halfpipe competition. Despite the high-profile criticism from the White House, Hess has maintained that his focus is on competing for “the things I believe are good about the U.S.”
