Trump criticized Olympic skier for comments about representing the US

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump criticized American Olympic skier Hunter Hess, several days after the athlete expressed mixed feelings about representing the US at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

"If that's the case, he shouldn't have tried to join the team, and it's a shame he's on it," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform, referring to Hess's comments. "It's very hard to cheer for someone like that."

Political tension was palpable at the Olympics in Cortina, Milan, partly due to the presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel. The agency has recently faced protests in the United States after agents shot and killed two people in Minneapolis last month.

During Friday's press conference in Milan, Hess, a freestyle skier, said it was "a little difficult" to represent the US and that he had mixed feelings.

(reuters, im)