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Agencies

US President Donald Trump criticised American Olympic ‌skier Hunter Hess as a “real loser” on Sunday, days after the athlete expressed ‍mixed feelings about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in northern Italy.
Freestyle skier Hess was asked at a press conference on Wednesday how he felt about representing America at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, given acute US tension over violent immigration raids and other political crises.
“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.
“Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US,” Hess added.
Hess said it “brings up mixed emotions to represent the US right now”.
While it is very rare for a US president to criticise a member of the US Olympic team, Trump did so on his Truth Social platform in response to Hess’ comments, displaying his penchant for attacking those who do not support him.
Trump wrote: “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,” Trump said.
America’s political tensions have rippled through the Games in Italy.
Italians have expressed anger that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are accompanying the US team.
Vice-President J.D. Vance was booed at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Games.


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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games

Trump blasts US Olympic skier, calling him a ‘real loser’

American skier Hunter Hess. Photo: AFP

Lindsey Vonn breaks leg in crash as US teammate Breezy Johnson wins downhill Olympic gold

Lindsey Vonn is transported by helicopter after crashing in the women’s downhill event during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

An image of Lindsey Vonn crashing on the big screen during the women’s downhill. Photo: Reuters

Breezy Johnson (centre), with Germany’s Emma Aicher (left) and Italy’s Sofia Goggia. Photo: AP

ICE agents get security role at 2026 Winter Olympics sparking outrage after deadly shootings

Federal officers move on protesters during a confrontation after ICE agents shot a man several times while they were trying to detain him in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 24. Photo: EPA

The cauldron lighting ceremony of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games in Rome, Italy on December. 5, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala (centre) and the 2026 Olympics bid team celebrate winning the right to host the Games in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE

A demonstrator protests outside of the ICE building in Washington on January 8, a day after an ICE agent shot and killed an American woman on the streets of Minneapolis. Photo: AFP

Hurtling head first down an icy chute on a sled – skeleton at the Winter Olympics

Britain’s Matt Weston is seen in action during the men’s skeleton heat 1 at the IBSF World Championships in Switzerland on Monday. Photo: Reuters

American Katie Uhlaender at the IBSF World Championships at Lake Placid last year. Photo: Reuters

Britain’s Matt Weston is arguably the biggest gold-medal favourite at the Games. Photo: Reuters

Jim Shea of the US pushes off during the men’s skeleton final at the 2002 Olympics. Photo: AP

From big air to moguls and slopestyle, what to know about freestyle skiing at Winter Olympics

Eileen Gu during a freeski slopestyle run at the Livigno Snow Park ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Photo: EPA

Mikael Kingsbury is generally viewed as the best moguls skier of all time. Photo: AP

The halfpipe and slopestyle courses at the Livigno Snow Park for the Winter Olympics. Photo: EPA

Lindsey Vonn faces date with downhill destiny at 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics

Lindsey Vonn will attempt the seemingly impossible on Sunday when she competes  for an Olympic medal in the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics downhill. Photo: EPA

Lindsey Vonn completed two training runs just a week after rupturing her ACL. Photo: EPA 

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US president’s attack on Hunter Hess came after the Olympian spoke out about the current situation in the United States


US president’s attack on Hunter Hess came after the Olympian spoke out about the current situation in the United States.


Trump blasts US Olympic skier, calling him a ‘real loser’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}US president’s attack on Hunter Hess came after the Olympian spoke out about the current situation in the United States

US president’s attack on Hunter Hess came after the Olympian spoke out about the current situation in the United States