Crew USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess most likely thought he was giving a measured, grown-up reply about patriotism. As an alternative, he’s now the primary character in a tradition struggle pile-on that includes Sean Strickland and Jake Paul, two males whose job descriptions embody punching issues and tweeting like they’re nonetheless in highschool.
Sean Strickland & Jake Paul Fuss Over Hunter Hess
At a latest Winter Olympic media availability, Hess mentioned it brings up “combined feelings” to signify the US, explaining that “there’s clearly rather a lot happening that I’m not the most important fan of” and including, “simply because I’m sporting the flag doesn’t imply I signify every little thing that’s happening within the US.” He framed his run for Crew 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 choice.
United States Olympian Hunter Hess: “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S”
— Dwelling of the Courageous (@ofthebraveusa.bsky.social) February 7, 2026 at 2:43 PM
That nuance went down badly with the outrage machine. Proper-wing outlets and commentators blasted Hess for airing “anti-American rhetoric” on the Olympic stage, with calls on-line for him to be despatched dwelling and stripped of his spot on the group. Some followers threatened to boycott the Winter Video games completely 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 US” and urging the nation to give attention to 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,” instructed 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 monitor report of crude social media blasts and open hostility towards LGBTQ individuals and girls.
Jake Paul, clearly distressed abd by no means one to overlook an opportunity to journey 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 Individuals In case you don’t need to signify this nation go stay someplace else.”
Hess, for his half, hasn’t launched a counter-rant. His unique feedback centered on discomfort with “what’s happening” 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 take a look at, with Strickland and Paul performing as self-appointed gatekeepers of what a “actual” American Olympian is allowed to say.
Donald Trump then threw a match and posted on Reality Social calling Hunter Hess “an actual loser” for saying he had combined feelings about representing the U.S. and that sporting the flag didn’t imply he represents “every little thing that’s happening within the U.S.” His message: if Hess feels that manner, he “shouldn’t have tried out for the Crew” 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 that should you’re not absolutely on board with the present model of America, you shouldn’t be sporting 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 take a look at.
