Crew USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess most likely thought he was giving a cautious, mature reply about patriotism. As an alternative, he is now the protagonist of a superimposed tradition battle that includes Sean Strickland and Jake Paul. Their job description consists of punching issues and tweeting like they’re nonetheless in highschool.
Sean Strickland and Jake Paul gush about Hunter Hess
At a latest Winter Olympics media briefing, Hess stated representing the USA evokes “combined feelings,” explaining that “there’s lots happening that I am clearly not a giant fan of,” including, “Simply because I am sporting the flag does not imply I signify every thing that is happening in the USA.” He framed his run for Crew USA not as a full-throated endorsement of each resolution by the federal authorities, but additionally as one for his “family and friends” and the individuals who helped him get there.
US Olympian Hunter Hess: “Simply because I am sporting the flag does not imply I signify every thing that is happening in the USA.”
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— Home of the Braveusa (@ofthebraveusa.bsky.social) February 7, 2026, 2:43 p.m.
This nuance made no sense in any respect in Outrage. Proper-wing media retailers and commentators accused Hess of spreading “anti-American rhetoric” on the Olympic stage, and there have been calls on-line for him to be despatched house and disqualified from the crew. Some followers threatened to boycott the Winter Olympics completely over feedback that, taken in context, sounded extra like displeasure with present insurance policies than a repudiation of the nation itself. Fellow American aerial skier Chris Lillis backed up Hess’ normal remarks, saying he was “disturbed by what is going on in the USA” and imploring the nation to concentrate on respecting the rights of all individuals, however that did little to calm the uproar.
Shaun Strickland, upset and watching the soft-spoken skier wrestle together with his id as a citizen, decides {that a} bar brawl at Caps Rock is the suitable response. Strickland berated Hess as a “shithole,” advised him to “get out of this nation that does not need you right here,” mocked him as a “homosexual skier,” repeated “fuck you,” simply in case, after which added, “Thank God, do not ever be close to him… (lol) That is the way you catch a case.” This dovetails properly with Strickland’s lengthy observe report of crude social media outbursts and outright hostility towards LGBTQ individuals and ladies.
Jake Paul, clearly heartbroken and by no means eager to miss the prospect to journey the wave of the virus, jumped in from the boxing aspect. The YouTuber-turned-fighter reposted Hess’ video and wrote, “Wow, shut up, true American individuals. When you do not wish to signify this nation, go stay elsewhere.”
Mr. Hess has not expressed any objection. His preliminary feedback centered on his discomfort with “what was happening” within the nation, together with immigration crackdowns and home unrest, whereas nonetheless making an attempt to separate his private values from the federal government of the day. However in a media surroundings constructed on clips and quoted tweets, a freestyle skier’s measured responses change into a take a look at of loyalty, with Strickland and Paul appearing as self-appointed gatekeepers of what “actual” American Olympians are allowed to say.
President Donald Trump has a seizure and tells Reality Hess known as Hunter Hess a “true loser” after posting on Social that he has combined emotions about representing the USA and stated that flying the flag would not signify “every thing that is happening in the USA,” and added: “If Hess feels that manner, he “should not have tried out for the crew” and that it is “a disgrace he was chosen to signify the crew,” including, “It is very laborious to root for somebody like this.” Let’s make America nice once more! ”
This places the sitting president in the identical place of concern as Strickland and Jake Paul. All three hammered house the concept that you should not put on USA in your chest for those who do not totally assist America as it’s immediately. President Trump’s jabs helped flip the freestyle skier’s cautious solutions about ICE, protests, and his personal values right into a full-fledged political litmus take a look at.
