From Fame to Fallout: Olympian Wipes Social Media After Online Uproar
Olympic Outrage: Team USA Athletes Face Humiliating Backlash and Social Media Lockdown After Bashing America on the World Stage
The Olympic Games have long served as a sacred arena where geopolitical tensions are set aside in favor of athletic excellence and national pride. However, the current Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy, have become the backdrop for a polarizing new chapter in American sports—one defined not by gold medals, but by a shocking display of political activism and perceived ingratitude from some of Team USA’s most prominent athletes. The situation reached a boiling point this week as skier Hunter Hess and figure skater Amber Glenn sparked a nationwide firestorm with comments that many Americans, including President Donald Trump, have branded as “unhinged” and “unpatriotic.”
The controversy ignited when Hunter Hess, a freestyle skier from Oregon, took to social media to express his internal conflict regarding his role as a representative of the United States. In a series of posts that quickly went viral, Hess admitted that he felt “mixed emotions” about wearing the American flag in the current political climate. “It brings up mixed emotions to represent the US right now,” Hess stated. “I think it’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of.” He went further, suggesting that his participation in the games should not be viewed as an endorsement of the nation’s leadership or policies, stating that just because he is wearing the flag doesn’t mean he represents “everything that’s going on in the US.”
The reaction was swift, severe, and led by the highest levels of political discourse. Donald Trump, never one to shy away from defending national symbols, took to Truth Social to deliver a stinging rebuke. Trump labeled Hess a “real loser” and argued that if an athlete feels so conflicted about their country, they should never have tried out for the team in the first place. “It’s too bad he’s on it,” Trump wrote. “Very hard to root for someone like this. Make America Great Again!”
The sentiment was echoed by Florida Representative Byron Donalds, who has become a vocal critic of “woke” culture in sports. Donalds, who has appeared on numerous platforms to discuss the importance of national unity, argued that the privilege of representing the United States at the Olympics is a choice that comes with responsibilities. “You choose to wear our flag, you choose to represent our country,” Donalds said. “If that’s too hard for you, go home. Some things are bigger than politics.”
As the criticism intensified, Hess found himself in the crosshairs of a massive public backlash. Thousands of social media users flooded his accounts, questioning why he was accepting the benefits of a spot on Team USA while simultaneously badmouthing the country. The pressure became so great that Hess was forced to disable the comments on his Instagram and TikTok accounts, a move that critics labeled as a cowardly retreat from the very “free speech” he claimed to be exercising. In a subsequent attempt at damage control, Hess posted a photo of himself with a more measured caption, acknowledging that while there are things that could be better, the freedom to point them out is what makes America great. However, for many, the damage was already done.
The drama in Cortina isn’t limited to the ski slopes. Figure skater Amber Glenn has also drawn fire for her comments regarding her identity and her fears for the LGBTQ+ community under the current administration. Glenn, who identifies as queer, suggested that the community is in “bad shape” due to the political shift in Washington. This narrative has been challenged by commentators who point to the appointment of Scott Bessent as the first gay Treasury Secretary of the United States as evidence that the administration is focused on merit rather than marginalization. Critics like Trish Regan have described Glenn’s constant focus on identity over athletics as “nauseating,” arguing that the Olympics should be about “getting the job done” rather than personal virtue signaling.
The divide we are seeing in the Olympics today mirrors the broader cultural schism in America. On one side are athletes who view their global platform as a tool for activism, regardless of the venue. On the other are millions of fans who believe that when you put on the national uniform, your personal politics should take a backseat to the honor of representing the people who support you. The beauty of the Olympics has traditionally been its ability to bring a divided nation together behind a single flag. But as athletes like Hess and Glenn continue to distance themselves from that flag, they risk alienating the very audience that makes their careers possible.
As the games continue, the question remains: Can Team USA find its way back to the “psyched to be here” attitude that defined past generations of Olympians? Or has the “woke Kool-Aid,” as Regan calls it, permanently soured the spirit of international competition? One thing is certain—the American public is watching, and their patience for ungrateful behavior from their national representatives has reached an all-time low.
