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What did U.S. Pres. Donald Trump say about Hunter Hess during the 2026 Olympics?

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On February 8, 2026, U.S. Pres. Donald Trump wrote on social media, “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. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” A couple of days before, Hess had been asked to comment on what it felt like to represent the United States at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games during the second Trump administration. Hess expressed ambivalence, saying, “It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now.…There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.…I just think, if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean that I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”