US Olympian Hunter Hess hits back after Trump calls him a “real loser”: “I love my country”

American Olympian Hunter Hess said “there’s a lot that’s good about America, but there’s always room for improvement,” a day after President Trump. insulting him because he says he had it”mixed feelings“for representing the United States in Winter Olympics in response to a reporter’s question last week.

“I love my country,” said Hess, a freestyle skater, in a social media post on Monday. “There is a lot that is good about America, but there is always something that could be better. One of the many things that makes this country so wonderful is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out.

“The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided, we need it more than ever,” Hess said. “I can’t wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete. Thank you to everyone for supporting me.”

American snowboarders at the Olympics also responded when asked by a reporter on Monday if they would like to speak with Mr. Trump calling Hess a “real brute” or how they feel representing Team USA.

Bea Kim said she thinks “there are a lot of different opinions in the US right now. Obviously, we are very diverse. I personally am very proud to represent the United States. That being said, I think diversity is what makes us a very strong country and what makes us special.”

Maddie Mastro said she’s proud to represent the United States, but “she’s also saddened by what’s happening at home. It’s really hard. I feel like we can’t ignore that. But at the same time, I’m representing a country that has the same values ​​as mine, kindness and compassion. And we come together in times of injustice.”

“My parents being immigrants, this one hits very close to home,” said two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim. “I think that in times like this, it is very important for us to unite and be a kind of resistance, in everything that is happening. And I think that I am really proud to represent the United States. The US has given my family and me a great opportunity. But I also think that we are allowed to express our opinions about what is happening. And I think that we need to lead with love and more love to see.”

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams told reporters on Monday that he would “not add to the conversation” about Mr.

“I will not comment on the statement of the president of the United States, and I will not do it for another head of state,” said Adams.

When asked if Hess needed more security after Mr. Trump, Adams declined to publicly discuss security issues.

The US and the Paralympic Committee said on Sunday that they are aware of an increase in malicious messages directed at athletes, and that they are doing everything possible to report credible threats to law enforcement and remove harmful content, the Associated Press reported.

“I think it’s important to speak our mind and stand up for what we believe in and stand up to injustice, and I’ve been very proud to see other athletes do that,” Gus Kenworthy, the skier competing for the United Kingdom at the 2026 Winter Games, said in a video on social media late Sunday.

Last week, Kenworthy, who is of US-UK descent and once competed for Team USA, posted a photo of an explicit message condemning US Immigration and Customs Enforcement on social media. The message was written in urine on the snow.

“I want to remind everyone that you can love the US and be proud to be an American – I am – and still think it can be better, and think the country can improve,” Kenworthy said. “And just because you love the US doesn’t mean you stand with these administrations and stand behind their politics and their laws and support the things that they support. Because I don’t. And I don’t support ICE, and I think it’s completely bad and bad and scary.”

Last week, Team USA freestyle skater Chris Lillis told reporters, in response to questions about domestic politics, that he felt “heartbroken by what’s happening in the United States” and that “as a country, we need to focus on respecting the rights of everyone and making sure we treat our citizens and everyone else with love and respect.”

Last Sunday, he posted a video on social media where he fell while trying to ski.

“To all the haters, here’s one of my hits to make you angry,” the caption said. “Don’t worry, I’m strong.”

“Athletes since ancient times have been political and political,” J. Simon Rofe, associate professor of sports at the University of Leeds told CBS News.

Rofe spoke when American medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in protest at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico as one of many examples of Olympic athletes using their positions to participate in political issues.

“What is remarkable [in these Winter Games] it is an organization of athletes in politics. So social media provides that opportunity to a much greater extent than we’ve seen in the past,” said Rofe. “Sports play that big role in society and communities to bring people together. It allows for conversations that wouldn’t happen otherwise. Now, some of those conversations may be to your taste and your mood, and some of them won’t be.”