Group USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess in all probability thought he was giving a measured, grown-up reply about patriotism. As an alternative, he’s now the principle character in a tradition warfare pile-on that includes Sean Strickland and Jake Paul, two males whose job descriptions embrace punching issues and tweeting like they’re nonetheless in highschool.
Sean Strickland & Jake Paul Fuss Over Hunter Hess
At a current Winter Olympic media availability, Hess stated it brings up “combined feelings” to signify the USA, explaining that “there’s clearly lots occurring that I’m not the most important fan of” and including, “simply because I’m carrying the flag doesn’t imply I signify all the pieces that’s occurring within the US.” He framed his run for Group USA as one thing he additionally does for “family and friends” and individuals who helped him get there, not as a blanket endorsement of each federal resolution.
United States Olympian Hunter Hess: „Simply because I am carrying the flag does not imply I signify all the pieces that is occurring within the U.S“
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— Residence of the Courageous (@ofthebraveusa.bsky.social) February 7, 2026 at 2:43 PM
That nuance went down badly with the outrage machine. Proper-wing retailers and commentators blasted Hess for airing “anti-American rhetoric” on the Olympic stage, with calls on-line for him to be despatched house and stripped of his spot on the workforce. Some followers threatened to boycott the Winter Video games solely over feedback that, in context, sounded extra like discomfort with present coverage than a rejection of the nation itself. Fellow U.S. aerials skier Chris Lillis backed Hess’ common level, saying he was “heartbroken about what’s taking place in the USA” and urging the nation to deal with respecting everybody’s rights, however that did little to chill the noise.
Enter Sean Strickland, who was upset and noticed a soft-spoken skier wrestling with civic identification and determined the suitable response was to go full caps-lock bar brawl. Strickland ripped Hess as “a bitch,” advised him to “get the fuck out of this nation we dont need you right here,” mocked him as a “homosexual ass skier,” and repeated “fucking bitch” for good measure earlier than including, “thank god unwell by no means be round him… Lol that’s the way you catch a case.” It matches neatly with Strickland’s lengthy observe document of crude social media blasts and open hostility towards LGBTQ individuals and ladies.
Jake Paul, clearly distressed abd by no means one to overlook an opportunity to experience a viral wave, jumped in from the boxing aspect. The YouTuber-turned-fighter reposted the Hess clip and wrote: “Wow pls shut the f*** up From all true People In case you don’t wish to signify this nation go stay elsewhere.”
Hess, for his half, hasn’t launched a counter-rant. His unique feedback centered on discomfort with “what’s occurring” within the nation, together with immigration enforcement and home unrest, whereas nonetheless making an attempt to separate his private values from the federal government of the day. However in a media panorama constructed on clips and quote tweets, a cautious reply from a freestyle skier has become a loyalty check, with Strickland and Paul appearing as self-appointed gatekeepers of what a “actual” American Olympian is allowed to say.
Donald Trump then threw a match and posted on Fact Social calling Hunter Hess “an actual loser” for saying he had combined feelings about representing the U.S. and that carrying the flag didn’t imply he represents “all the pieces that’s occurring within the U.S.” His message: if Hess feels that manner, he “shouldn’t have tried out for the Group” and it’s “too dangerous he’s on it,” including that it’s “very arduous to root for somebody like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
That put the sitting president squarely in the identical outrage lane as Strickland and Jake Paul: all three hammered the concept for those who’re not absolutely on board with the present model of America, you shouldn’t be carrying USA throughout your chest. Trump’s jab helped flip a freestyle skier’s cautious reply about ICE, protests, and his personal values right into a full-blown political litmus check.
