Olympians Say They Have ‘Mixed Emotions’ Representing America Under Donald Trump

Several American Olympians have used the press conferences to criticize the state of the United States under President Donald Trump, saying their participation comes with personal moral and political considerations.

Freestyle skier Hunter Hess said representing the United States currently “brings up mixed emotions,” explaining that he views national representation selectively. Hess said he considers himself to be representing “friends and family back home” and “the things that I believe are good about the U.S.”

“If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it,” Hess said.

Trump responded to Hess directly in a Truth Social post on Sunday, saying, “U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. 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!”

Freestyle skier Chris Lillis also acknowledged discomfort with current political conditions, citing immigration enforcement and recent protests as factors shaping his perspective. “A lot of times athletes are hesitant to talk about their political views and how we feel about things,” Lillis said. “I feel heartbroken about what’s happened in the United States,” in reference to ICE and border enforcement efforts.

Lillis said he hopes the country can better reflect values he believes should define the United States. “I think as a country we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights, making sure that we’re treating our citizens, as well as anybody, with love and respect,” he said. “That’s the America we’re trying to represent.”

The remarks, made by athletes across multiple sports, highlight a broader tension between individual political views and the traditional role of Olympic competitors as representatives of the nation as a whole.

Political messaging surrounding the Olympics has also come from figures outside the current U.S. team. Gus Kenworthy, a U.S. and U.K. dual citizen who previously competed for the United States but is representing Great Britain this year, posted a photo on social media showing the phrase “f*** ICE” written in urine in the snow.

The caption accompanying the post included a script for Americans to use when calling elected officials, urging them to end funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol. Kenworthy was not disciplined by either the International Olympic Committee or the British Olympic Association.

Figure skater Amber Glenn also addressed the issue, framing her Olympic platform as an opportunity to speak out on political and social concerns, particularly those affecting the LGBT community. “It isn’t the first time we’ve had to come together as a community and fight for our human rights,” Glenn said.

She added that policies under the Trump administration are “not just affecting the queer community but many other communities,” and said she hopes to use her visibility to encourage others. “I hope I can use my platform to encourage people to stay strong in these hard times,” Glenn said.

Glenn also addressed criticism directed at athletes who speak publicly about politics. “A lot of people will say, ‘You’re just an athlete, stick to your job, shut up about politics,’” she said. “But politics affect us all. It is not something I will just be quiet about.”

The comments have drawn attention as the Olympic Games have historically emphasized national unity, with athletes competing under their country’s flag rather than as representatives of individual political causes. U.S. Olympians traditionally serve as representatives of the entire nation during international competition, regardless of personal political views — a role that has periodically come into tension during times of domestic political division.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has not commented on the athlete statements.