NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
President Donald Trump responded Sunday after Team USA Olympic skier Hunter Hess sparked outrage over his comments about the country’s representation at the Milan Cortina Games.
Trump posted a scathing message on social media, calling Hess “a real loser.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Hunter Hess of Team USA reacts after competing in the Men’s Ski Superpipe Final on day two of the Dew Tour at Copper Mountain on February 25, 2023 in Copper Mountain, Colorado. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“American Olympic skier Hunter Hess, a real loser, says he is not representing his country in the current Winter Olympics,” he wrote.
“If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried to make the team, and it’s a shame he made it. Very hard to support someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
“Miracle on Ice” star Mike Eruzione also took issue with Hess’s remarks. He wrote on X that Hess shouldn’t have put on the uniform if he felt the way he did. The former men’s ice hockey Olympian later deleted his post.
Hess’ comments come as the Trump administration faces backlash over the use of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in illegal immigration operations. An incident with ICE agents in January left one person dead in Minnesota. The woman was identified as Renée Good. Border Patrol agents also had a fatal encounter with Alex Pretti.
Hunter Hess reacts during the men’s ski halfpipe final at the Toyota United States Grand Prix at Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort in Aspen, Colorado. This happened on January 9, 2026. (Dustin Satloff/American Ski and Snowboard/Getty Images)
US COULD BE THE ‘GLOBAL VILLAIN’ OF THE WINTER OLYMPICS, CNN Host and Sports Writer Suggest
These incidents were apparently used as a catalyst for comments from Hess and teammate Chris Lillis. Hess said he had “mixed emotions” about representing the United States.
“It brings mixed emotions representing the United States right now, I think. It’s a little tough. 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 said.
“I think for me it’s more about representing my friends and family back home, the people who represented them before me, everything that I believe is good about the United States. If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing them. Just because I’m carrying the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the United States.
President Donald Trump during an announcement in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington, DC, Thursday, February 5, 2026. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“I just want to do it for my friends, my family and the people who support me to get here.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
Hess competes in the men’s free ski half-pipe.
