The reason stems from Hunter Hess's statement about his personal feelings when representing the US at the 2026 Winter Olympics, held in northern Italy.
On February 8, on the social network Truth Social, President Donald Trump wrote that if Hunter Hess is not proud to represent the country, then he should "not be in the team" and said that "it is very difficult to cheer for such a person".
Previously, Hunter Hess said he disagreed with some policies, especially the current US immigration law, saying that many Americans also have similar views.
Speaking in Milan (Italy) on February 6, Hunter Hess admitted that he felt emotionally awkward representing the United States, saying he had opposing thoughts and feelings.
“The fact that I wear the flag does not mean that I represent everything that is happening in America”.
A teammate of Hunter Hess, Chris Lillis, also publicly criticized the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying he felt "heartbroken".
Chris Lillis emphasized that the United States needs to focus on respecting human rights and ensuring that all citizens, as well as everyone else, are treated with respect and love.
He expressed hope that the public, when watching athletes compete at the Olympics, will see that it is the image of the United States that they want to represent.
The statements of American athletes such as Hunter Hess and Chris Lillis have attracted widespread public attention, showing that the Milan - Cortina Olympics is becoming a crossroads between sports and political controversies, especially related to immigration policy and the role of the ICE agency in the US.
In addition to Mr. Trump, many public figures and former US athletes also spoke out against, saying that Hunter Hess's statement was not in line with the role and responsibility of an athlete when representing the national team.
