Olympian Walks Back Controversial Comments, Says He’s Proud to Represent Team USA

American freestyle skier Hunter Hess moved to clarify his stance on representing the United States at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics after comments he made last week sparked backlash and drew sharp criticism from…

Andrew PowellFeb 10, 20263 min read

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is that it brings people together, and when so many of

US

are divided, we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete.”

Hess’ original remarks came amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement actions carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Recent deadly encounters involving federal agents were widely discussed at the time, and Hess referenced that broader climate when explaining why representing the country felt complicated to him.

“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think,” Hess said last week. “It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.”

He added that his motivation for competing went beyond Politics.

“For me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S.,” Hess said. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”

President Donald Trump responded bluntly to the initial comments, calling Hess a “real loser,” a remark that further amplified the controversy.

With competition approaching, Hess’ latest statement appears aimed at refocusing attention on the Olympics themselves — and on his desire to compete for Team USA on one of the world’s biggest stages.

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