US Olympians criticise immigration crackdown, draw 'real loser' attack from Trump
Donald Trump's remarks come amid growing backlash against athletes participating in the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics who have shared "mixed feelings" about representing America, given what is happening at their home.
Days after US skiers Chris Lillis and Hunter Hess criticised Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, President Donald Trump fired back at Olympians, saying their comments made it difficult to support them and branding one skier "a real loser".
Trump's remarks come amid growing backlash against athletes participating in the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics who have shared "mixed feelings" about representing America, given what is happening at their home.
The controversy began after freestyle skier Hunter Hess was asked at a press conference in Milan how he felt competing amid immigration enforcement in the United States.
Hess said he experienced "mixed emotions", explaining that while he was proud to represent his family and supporters, he did not agree with everything happening at home.
"Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US," he said.
TRUMP HITS BACK AT OLYMPIANS
Trump responded the following day on his social media platform, saying Hess’s comments made it "hard to root" for him and suggesting he should not have tried out for the team if he felt that way.
The post quickly spread online, pushing the athlete into the centre of a political debate far beyond sport.
Influencer and boxer Jake Paul posted that athletes who questioned the country should "go live somewhere else".
Shortly afterwards, Paul was photographed sitting alongside JD Vance at a women’s hockey match in Milan, further fuelling attention around the dispute.
Several conservative public figures also joined in online criticism, while ordinary users flooded athletes’ social media accounts with hostile messages.
MORE ATHLETES SPEAK OUT
Hess was not alone in the controversy. Fellow freestyle skier Chris Lillis said he was "heartbroken" by developments in the United States and urged respect for human rights.
"I hope people see the America we’re trying to represent," Lillis told reporters.
Figure skater Amber Glenn also spoke about difficulties faced by the LGBTQ+ community during the Trump administration.
Following the backlash, Glenn said she had received "a scary amount of hate and threats" and would limit her social media use to protect her mental health.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said it was aware of an increase in abusive and harmful messages directed at athletes.
In a statement, the organisation said it was working to remove threatening content and report credible risks to law enforcement.
"The USOPC stands firmly behind Team USA athletes and remains committed to their well-being and safety," it said.
Officials stressed that athletes were encouraged to express themselves respectfully and that their safety remained a priority.
ANTI-ICE PROTESTS IN ITALY
The dispute unfolded against a backdrop of protests in Italy linked to US immigration policy. Demonstrators in Milan staged rallies against the presence of US Homeland Security investigators, despite clarification that they were part of an overseas security unit rather than immigration enforcement teams.
During the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, American athletes were cheered, but boos were heard when JD Vance and his wife appeared on stadium screens.
A large demonstration over the weekend drew thousands of protesters, with isolated clashes between police and a small group of demonstrators.