Trump Criticizes Olympic Skier Who Expressed 'Mixed Emotions' About Representing U.S.

Hunter Hess said he's 'not the biggest fan' of some things happening in the United States.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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President Donald Trump called U.S. Olympian Hunter Hess 'a real loser' after the skier said he had 'mixed emotions' about representing the United States in this year's Winter Olympics. Hess said he's 'not the biggest fan' of some things happening in the U.S. and that he feels he's representing his 'friends and family back home' more than the country itself.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing political tensions in the U.S. and the challenges some athletes face in reconciling their personal views with representing the country on the world stage. It also raises questions about how public figures should respond when athletes express dissatisfaction with the state of the nation.

The details

In a press conference, Hess said 'It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. 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 aren't.' Trump responded on Truth Social, calling Hess 'a real loser' and saying 'if he doesn't want to represent the U.S., he shouldn't have tried out for the Team.' Hess' teammate, Chris Lillis, also commented on the political situation, saying '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.'

  • Hess made his comments at a press conference on Friday, February 3, 2026.
  • Trump posted his criticism on Truth Social on Sunday, February 5, 2026.

The players

Hunter Hess

A U.S. Olympic freestyle skier competing in the 2026 Winter Games.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who criticized Hess on social media.

Chris Lillis

A U.S. Olympic athlete and Hess' teammate who also commented on the political situation in the U.S.

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What they’re saying

“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. 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 aren't.”

— Hunter Hess, U.S. Olympic Freestyle Skier (Press Conference)

“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, and I hope that when people look at athletes compete in the Olympics, they realize that that's the America that we're trying to represent.”

— Chris Lillis, U.S. Olympic Athlete (Press Conference)

“if he doesn't want to represent the U.S., he shouldn't have tried out for the Team, and it's too bad he's on it.”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

What’s next

The U.S. Olympic Committee has not yet commented on Hess' remarks or Trump's criticism. It remains to be seen if there will be any disciplinary action or further fallout from this incident.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the complex relationship between politics, patriotism, and athletic competition on the world stage. As the U.S. continues to grapple with deep political divisions, some athletes may feel torn between representing their country and voicing dissent over its policies and actions.