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Olympian Crumbles After Anti-American Remarks Spark Presidential Fury

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By Gage Skidmore via Flicker

American skier Hunter Hess moved to clarify his loyalty to the United States after backlash erupted over remarks about having “mixed emotions” representing the red, white and blue.

Hess posted a new message declaring, “I love my country,” followed by an American flag emoji, and made clear he is proud to compete under the U.S. flag at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

“There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better,” he wrote, framing his earlier comments as part of the nation’s standard of free expression.

“One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out,” Hess continued.

 

“The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete.”

The clarification followed days of criticism that began when Hess told reporters he felt conflicted about competing for the United States.

“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think,” Hess said in his initial remarks.

“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.”

He stressed that his focus remained on family and personal values rather than politics.

“I think, for me, it’s more 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 U.S.” he commented.

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 U.S.,” Hess added.

“I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here.”

President Donald Trump responded to the “real losers” earlier comments and questioned why Hess tried out for the team.

“If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it,” Trump said.

“Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Hess’ original remarks came as debate intensified over the Trump administration’s use of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in enforcement operations.

An encounter involving ICE agents in January left Renee Good dead in Minnesota, and Border Patrol agents were involved in a deadly confrontation with Alex Pretti.

Those incidents formed the backdrop for Hess’ initial comments and for similar concerns voiced by teammate Chris Lillis.

Support for Hess came from fellow Olympian Chloe Kim, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding.

“My parents being immigrants, this one definitely hits pretty close to home,” Kim said during a press conference when asked about the controversy.

“I think in moments like these it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that’s going on and I think that I’m really proud to represent the United States.”

Another voice entered the debate from an American athlete who competes under a different flag.

Eileen Gu, born in California and now competing for China, criticized the focus on political headlines overshadowing Olympic competition.

“I’m sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so unrelated to the spirit of the Games,” Gu said in an interview with The Athletic.

“It really runs contrary to everything the Olympics should be.”

Gu noted she understands what it feels like to face scrutiny over national allegiance.

“As someone who has got caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes,” Gu remarked. “I hope that they can ski to their very best.”

The debate widened when British American skier Gus Kenworthy renewed his own criticism of ICE while preparing to represent Great Britain in Milan Cortina, despite .

Kenworthy posted a graphic image reading “F— ICE” and addressed backlash he received after sharing it. He insisted that speaking out remains essential.

“I also think that there’s a lot of nuance to it, and I feel like sometimes people forget that,” Kenworthy said in a video posted to social media.

“So, I just want to remind everyone that, like, you can love the U.S. and be proud to be an American – I am – and still think it can be better and still think that the country can improve.”

Kenworthy won a silver medal for the United *States in men’s slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, before switching sides to represent Great Britain.

“And just because you love the U.S. doesn’t mean you stand with this administration and stand behind their policies and their legislation and support the things that they support. Because I don’t and I do not support ICE,” he ranted at length.

“And I think it’s absolutely evil and awful and terrifying. There have been U.S. citizens that have been murdered in the street, executed in the street, and the officers are essentially acting with impunity because their identities are covered.”

Kenworthy alleged misconduct by immigration officers and claimed agents are “racially profiling people, rounding up Black and Brown folks and kidnapping them, putting them in unmarked vehicles with no arrest warrant, no probable cause.”

“They’re being held without any sort of due process. It’s crazy. It’s scary. And people are being sent to countries that they’re not even from. And U.S. citizens are being caught in this,” he continued.

“And I think overwhelmingly the majority of the people being targeted are good people, hardworking people that are nonviolent and have no criminal history and just came to the U.S. seeking a better life,” Kenworthy concluded.

“And that is literally the foundation story of the U.S. We are a country of immigrants, and that’s the American dream. And I think people forget that sometimes.”

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