Team USA skaters are under fire for having ‘mixed emotions’ representing the US

American freestyle skaters are facing a backlash on social media after comments about representing the United States at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics amid the Trump administration’s latest crackdown on US immigration.

Speaking to the media before Friday’s opening ceremony, several members of Team USA’s freestyle ski team spoke about representing the US as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations continue under President Donald Trump’s second term.

Two-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist Chris Lillis said that although he would “not” want to represent another country in the Games, he was “heartbroken” by the management’s actions.

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“I love the USA. I would never want to represent a different country in the Olympics. That being said, most of the time athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things.

“I feel sad about what’s happening in the United States — I’m sure you’re referring to ICE and other protests and things like that,” he continued. “I think that as a country, we need to focus on respecting everyone’s rights and making sure that we treat our citizens like everyone else with love and respect. I hope that when people watch the athletes compete in the Olympics, they see that this is the America that we are trying to represent.”

Ashley Caldwell (L), Christopher Lillis and Justin Schoenefeld (R) stand with their national flags on the podium during the victory ceremony after the mixed team aerials final of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Genting Snow Park A & M Stadium in Zhangjiakou, China. It happened on Feb. 10, 2022. (Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty Images)

First-time Olympian Hunter Hess echoed that sentiment, but took it a step further, saying he had “mixed emotions” about representing the US at the games.

“It brings mixed feelings to represent the US right now, I think. It’s a little difficult. Obviously there’s a lot going on that I’m not a huge fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.”

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“I think for me, it’s great that I’m representing my friends and my family at home, the people who represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the US – if it’s consistent with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean that I’m representing everything that’s happening in the US.”

He continued, “I want to do it for my friends and my family and the people who support me to get here.”

Hunter Hess reacts during the men’s cross country skiing final at the Toyota US Grand Prix at Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort in Aspen, Colorado. It happened on January 9, 2026. (Dustin Satloff/US Ski and Snowboard/Getty Images)

These comments made Team USA fans react strongly on social media.

“Anti-ICE, liberal athletes are already intolerable at the Olympics,” one commenter said, in part. “If you’re not proud to represent the red, white, and blue, stay home.”

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“Chris Lillis and Hunter Hess should be sent home immediately,” one user wrote. “They have insulted our entire nation in the world and they should never be allowed to represent us again.”

“You must not be representing the USA if you hate here,” read another post. “He’s so tired of this Anti-American rhetoric.”

Hess competes in the men’s freeski halfpipe, and Lillis competes in the men’s aerials.

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