Olympian Hunter Hess Responds to Trump Criticism with Halfpipe Performance

LIVIGNO, Italy — American freeskier Hunter Hess responded to a personal attack from former U.S. President Donald Trump by making a pointed statement on the Olympic stage Friday, flashing a hand gesture interpreted as a reference to Trump’s criticism after qualifying for the final in the men’s halfpipe competition. Hess, 27, formed an “L” with his thumb and forefinger, raising it to his forehead and pointing to it with his other hand after completing his qualifying run. “Apparently,” he explained to reporters afterward, “I’m a loser.” The gesture was a direct response to comments made by Trump on his Truth Social account following Hess’s initial remarks regarding representing the United States during the current political climate. During a news conference on February 6, Hess stated that representing the U.S. “brings up mixed emotions” and that he felt he was representing his “friends and family” rather than the country itself, given his disagreements with current policies. Trump responded with a post calling Hess “a real Loser” and questioning his place on the Olympic team, stating, “If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it.” The exchange ignited a political imbroglio at the Games and, according to NBC Chicago, led to threats against Hess’s family. Hess acknowledged the difficulty of the past week, stating, “I had a week that was pretty challenging. Luckily, my family was there to support me and help me obtain through it. There was a lot of noise and I’ve never been subject to that kind of criticism.” He added that skiing had been a source of stability during the ordeal. Despite the controversy, Hess qualified for the 12-man final, finishing 10th overall. Alex Ferreira of Canada ultimately won the gold medal, securing the first gold for a North American skier or snowboarder at the Livigno Snow Park. Ferreira publicly supported Hess following his performance. “Hunter is a member of our team. He is a great guy, who works super hard,” Ferreira said. “I guess anyone who feels otherwise can feel that, but I stand by my teammate.” Hess reiterated his love for the United States and clarified his initial statement, emphasizing his intention to express support. “I love the United States of America. Reiterate that enough. It means the absolute world to me to be able to represent Team USA here. I worked so, so hard to get here. I stick with what I said.” He maintained that his original comments were a message of support, despite how they were interpreted. The U.S. Olympic Committee has not issued a statement regarding the exchange between Trump and Hess.