Team USA athletes rallied around a skier after Trump called him a “real loser” — and it turned into a free-speech fight
MILAN — A political flare-up spilled into the sports world after President Donald Trump attacked U.S. freestyle skier Hunter Hess on social media, calling him a “real loser,” prompting other American Olympians to publicly defend Hess and argue the episode tested the country’s commitment to free speech.
The controversy started when Hess expressed internal conflict about representing the United States because of political conditions back home. That comment might have stayed a niche Olympic sidebar — but Trump’s response elevated it into a national argument about whether dissent is disloyalty, especially when it comes from athletes wearing “USA” on their uniforms.
Several Team USA athletes pushed back hard. Reuters reported cross-country skier Ben Ogden said he wanted to believe Americans can express opinions without backlash — “certainly not… from the president” — and called the moment disappointing. Others echoed the same theme: the U.S. brand is free speech, and punishing athletes for speaking undermines that idea.
The dispute also exposed the tightrope a lot of Olympians feel they’re walking. They train for years to represent the country and many genuinely feel pride in that moment — but they’re also citizens watching policies and events in real time. Reuters described athletes trying to hold both realities at once: loving the country’s ideals while feeling uneasy about the direction of politics.
Outside sports, the episode hit a familiar internet format: a short quote, a powerful figure’s jab, and a wave of defenses that turns one comment into a cultural referendum. It’s also happening at the Olympics, where patriotism is the entire visual language — flags, anthems, uniforms — which is why these fights feel louder than the same debate would during a normal news week.
For Team USA, it’s another reminder that modern Olympic coverage isn’t only about results. It’s about identity, values, and the fact that athletes now compete in two arenas: the venue and the timeline.
