Some U.S. Winter Olympians are speaking out against Trump

WASHINGTON — Just days into the Winter Olympics, U.S. politics is already being felt in Milan and Cortina alongside some of the world’s best athletes.   

Washington, D.C.’s influence in northern Italy was on full display over the weekend when U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to admonish an American athlete after he expressed criticism, broadly, with some things taking place back home. 

“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think,” freestyle skier Hunter Hess said in a news conference in Italy ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony. “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.”

Hess went on to say that wearing the American flag as he competes does not mean he represents “everything that’s going on in the U.S.”

The comments from the 27-year-old Bend, Oregon, native — who does a film series with fellow freestyle skiing star Alex Hall, who is also competing in Italy coming off a gold medal in Beijing — led Trump to designate Hess a “real loser.” 

“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 of Hess in a post on Truth Social on Sunday. “Very hard to root for someone like this.”

Several other Republicans in Congress echoed the president’s rebuke of the American athlete, such as Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who declared on X that representing the U.S. at the Games is an honor and anyone “who feels otherwise should be stripped of their USA Olympic uniform.”

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., meanwhile, argued athletes “chose” to wear the American flag, represent the country and compete. 

“If that’s too hard for you, then GO HOME,” Donalds wrote. 

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., had a one-line response to Hess: “Shut up and go play in the snow.” 

On the other side, independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats, called Hess a “proud American” in response to the back-and-forth. 

“Mr. President, this is not a monarchy,” Sanders wrote. “This is the United States and no one is required to bow down to you.” 

The ordeal is showing its foothold in the Olympic Village this week. Asked to respond to the president’s comments on Hess during a news conference Monday, American snowboarder Chloe Kim, who is looking to win a gold medal at her third consecutive Winter Olympics, noted that the topic “hits pretty close to home,” as both of her parents immigrated to the U.S. 

“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.”

In response to the same question at the press conference, fellow U.S. snowboarder Beatrice Kim noted there are a lot of “different opinions” in the country and it is “divided.” 

She added that diversity is what makes the country “very strong” and “special.” 

Immigration enforcement and the role of  Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, in the U.S. in particular has played a role in the intersection of sports and politics taking place in Milan. Anti-Olympic protests near venues have also included messages pushing back on ICE.

Alongside Hess, fellow American freestyle skier Chris Lillis said at a press conference in Milan before the opening ceremony last week that he feels “heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States,” when asked about the political situation in the country. 

“I’m pretty sure you’re referencing ICE and some of the protests and things like that,” Lillis continued in his response. “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.”

Meanwhile, figure skater Amber Glenn, a three-time U.S. national champion who has been open about being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, said over the weekend that she was taking a break from social media after receiving a “scary amount of hate / threats.” That was after a response she gave at a news conference when asked about the president and the LGBTQ+ community. 

“It’s been a hard time for the community overall in this administration,” Glenn said. “It isn’t the first time that we’ve had to come together as a community and try and fight for our human rights.”

Glenn went on to say that she would not stay quiet on politics because “it is something that affects us in our everyday lives.”

“I know that a lot of people say ‘You’re just an athlete, like stick to your job, shut up about politics,’” she said. “But politics affect us all.”

Political dynamics seemed to have a grip on the Games from the start. Asked about Vice President JD Vance being booed when he was shown during the opening ceremony for the Games on Friday, Trump said he hadn’t seen it but was “surprised” to hear it because “people like him.” 

“Well, I mean, he is in a foreign country, you know, in all fairness,” said Trump, who tapped Vance to lead the U.S. delegation to the Games and attend the opening ceremony in Milan. “He doesn’t get booed in this country.”