MILAN — The morning after President Donald Trump chastised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess for his comments about representing his country at these Olympics, other U.S. athletes had to deal with the inevitable fallout.
A reporter asked two-time gold medalist Chloe Kim and three other American snowboarders at a Monday news conference if they would like to address President Trump calling their teammate a “real loser” or how it feels representing Team USA in the current political climate.
All four snowboarders chose to answer the question. They each described themselves as proud to represent the U.S., but three referenced the tensions back home caused by immigration raids and other political crises.
Kim, a 25-year-old native of Southern California whose parents emigrated from South Korea, began by saying the question “hits pretty close to home.”
“In moments like these, I think it is really important for us to unite and stand up for one another for all that’s going on,” Kim said. “I’m really proud to represent the United States. The U.S. has given my family and I so much opportunity, but I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions with what’s going on. I think that we need to lead with love and compassion and I would love to see some more of that.”
Those comments from Kim echoed how fellow U.S. snowboarders Bea Kim and Maddie Mastro previously answered the question.
Bea Kim noted that she is the granddaughter of immigrants.
“Diversity,” she said, “is what makes us a very strong country.”
Mastro described herself as “saddened with what is happening at home.”
“It’s really tough and I feel like we can’t turn a blind eye to that,” she said, “but at the same time I represent a country that has the same values as mine of kindness and compassion. We come together in times of injustice.”
Those comments from the U.S. snowboarders come only three days after Hess ignited a controversy back home when he addressed his struggles reconciling the gap between what his country represents and his individual values. Hess told reporters he has “mixed emotions” wearing red, white and blue during these Olympics.
“There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said. “If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. But just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean that I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
Mike Eruzione, star of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. men’s hockey team, blasted Hess in a since-deleted tweet. Then on Sunday night, President Trump entered the fray with a post on his Truth Social platform.
“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” Trump wrote. “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!”
Hess is not the only U.S. Olympian wrestling with what it means to represent America in the current political climate. Other athletes asked by international media outlets acknowledged the same even before President Trump’s social media post.
American skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin was so prepared for this line of questioning on Saturday that she not only copied down a Nelson Mandela quote used by Charlize Theron during the Opening Ceremony but also read from some notes she had typed into her phone.
“I think it’s always an honor and privilege to represent Team USA and to represent your country,” Shiffrin began.
Then she continued, “For me as this relates to the Olympics, I’m really hoping to show up and represent my own values, values of inclusivity, values of diversity and kindness and sharing, tenacity, work ethic, showing up with my team every single day.”
On the same day that Hess spoke to reporters, Vice President J.D. Vance received a smattering of boos at San Siro stadium in Milan during the Opening Ceremony. Italians have also staged several protests about the presence of ICE agents in their country.
On Monday, Eileen Gu was asked about Trump lashing out at Hess after her silver medal-winning performance in the women’s freestyle skiing competition. Gu, who was born in the U.S. but represents China, said she was “sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so unrelated to the spirit of the Games.”
“As someone who has been caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes,” she continued. “I hope they can ski to their very best.”