U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
Trump took aim at Hess in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, saying the skier should not have tried out for the U.S. team if he did not feel he represented the country.
“If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it,” Trump wrote. “Very hard to root for someone like this.”
The comments came days after Hess spoke candidly during a press conference in Milan, where he described having “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S. amid ongoing political developments at home.
“I think it brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now,” Hess said.
“It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of,” Hess added.
The skier stressed that his decision to compete was rooted in personal values rather than political alignment.
“For me it’s more that I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that supported me getting here,” he said, adding that wearing the national flag did not mean he endorsed everything happening in the country.
Political tensions have surfaced at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics more broadly, including controversy over the presence of personnel from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agency has faced widespread protests in the United States following the fatal shootings of two people in Minneapolis last month during enforcement operations.
The episode underscores how domestic political divisions in the United States are increasingly spilling onto the international sporting stage, even as athletes seek to focus on competition rather than controversy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at eas...
Talks between the United States and Iran opened in Islamabad on Saturday (11 April) as the two sides sought to turn a fragile temporary ceasefir...
Ismail Omar Guelleh has been re-elected for a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, according to state media, extending his nearly three-...
Kazakhstan and Armenia are moving to deepen bilateral ties as shifting dynamics in the South Caucasus reopen long-blocked transport routes and crea...
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at easing regional tensions, as Pakistan hosts the discussions. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are set to hold rare negotiations in Washington next Tuesday.
Ismail Omar Guelleh has been re-elected for a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, according to state media, extending his nearly three-decade hold on power in the small but strategically significant East African nation.
Kazakhstan and Armenia are moving to deepen bilateral ties as shifting dynamics in the South Caucasus reopen long-blocked transport routes and create new economic opportunities.
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at easing regional tensions, as Pakistan hosts the discussions. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are set to hold rare negotiations in Washington next Tuesday.
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until 31 May due to the Iran crisis, raising fears of significant revenue losses for Indian carriers, industry letters show.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday an Easter ceasefire with Ukraine lasting 32-hours and said that Kyiv has agreed to abide by the measure. The ceasefire is expected to begin at 16:00 (13:00 GMT) on Saturday 11 April and last until midnight Sunday 12 April, the Kremlin said.
Ismail Omar Guelleh has been re-elected for a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, according to state media, extending his nearly three-decade hold on power in the small but strategically significant East African nation.
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Donald Trump’s flagship plan for post-war Gaza has come under scrutiny after reports that its financing is falling short of expectations, claims firmly rejected by the White House-backed Board of Peace.
A charity co-founded by Prince Harry in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana, is suing him for libel at the High Court in London, according to a court record published on Friday (10 April).
The European Union and Washington are nearing an agreement to coordinate the production and security of critical minerals, Bloomberg News reported on Friday (10 April).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment