Trump and other conservatives lash out at Winter Olympians
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Skier Hunter Hess at a freeski competition Jan. 10 at Aspen Snowmass. Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Some U.S. Olympians are facing backlash from the right after they shared misgivings about the state of U.S. politics from the Milan-Cortina Games.
Why it matters: The condemnation has led to counter-accusations that conservatives are disrespecting Americans' freedom of speech.
The big picture: The athletes' statements have come in response to reporters' questions about their views on President Trump's immigration crackdowns in Minneapolis and other cities, per the AP.
What they're saying: "I think that as a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody's rights and making sure that we're treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect," Park City skier Chris Lillis said Friday. "And I hope that when people look at athletes competing in the Olympics, they realize that that's the America that we're trying to represent."
- Lillis' teammate, Salt Lake City-based skier Hunter Hess, said he had "mixed emotions" about representing the U.S., noting, "There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't."
The other side: Trump singled out Hess in a Truth Social post on Sunday, calling him "a real Loser."
- A day earlier, Utah Sen. Mike Lee slammed Lillis via his BasedMikeLee account on X, saying Lillis should "stay home."
Catch up quick: The Utah skiers aren't the only ones speaking out on politics.
Zoom in: Figure skater Amber Glenn said on Instagram this weekend that she's received "a scary amount of hate/threats for simply using my voice WHEN ASKED about how I feel," per the Dallas Voice.
- She said last week that the queer community is having a "hard time" under Trump's rollback of protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.
- "While representing the U.S. abroad at the Olympics, stick to your job," Lee bit back.
Zoom out: Athletes have also been lambasted by boxer and influencer Jake Paul, mixed martial artist Sean Strickland, conservative writer Peachy Keenan and right wing media personality Megyn Kelly.
The latest: "It's a sad reality that over the last several games, we've seen an uptick in abusive and harmful messages directed at the athletes during competition," the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in a statement Monday to NPR.
Meanwhile, Hess defended his comments.
- "There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better," he posted Monday on Instagram. "One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out."