Chloe Kim, a two time snowboard halfpipe champion, stepped into a small storm on Monday and aimed for calm. She was asked about President Donald Trump calling her teammate a loser. βWe need to lead with love and compassion, and Iβd love to see more of that,β she said plainly.
Kim made it personal. Her parents came to the United States in 1982, and she said the insult hit close to home. βObviously, my parents being immigrants, this one hits pretty close to home,β she said. βIβm really proud to represent the United States. The U.S. has given my family so much opportunity, but I also think we are allowed to voice our opinions on whatβs going on.β
BREAKING: US Olympian Chloe Kim, who has immigrant parents, speaks out:
βIn moments like these itβs really important for us to unite. We are allowed to voice our opinions on whatβs going on. I think we need to lead with love and compassion.β
Iβm so happy that so many Olympiansβ¦ pic.twitter.com/vrMqeNDQZD
β Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) February 9, 2026
The row began when freestyle skier Hunter Hess spoke about mixed feelings on representing his country. βThereβs obviously a lot going on that Iβm not the biggest fan of and think a lot of people arenβt,β he said. βJust because Iβm wearing the flag doesnβt mean I represent everything thatβs going on in the U.S.β
Hess added that he competes for the parts of the country he loves, not as a blank check for every policy. βIf it aligns with my moral values, I feel like Iβm representing it. But just because Iβm wearing the flag doesnβt mean that I represent everything thatβs going on in the U.S.β
That brought a public response from the president. He posted on Truth Social and did not use a soft voice. βU.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,β he wrote. βIf thatβs the case, he shouldnβt have tried out for the Team, and itβs too bad heβs on it. Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!β
The exchange turned a routine team moment into national news. Team USA athletes found themselves speaking about more than scores and medals. Some people praised Hess for honesty. Others rushed to anger. The online replies ranged from supportive to ugly.
Kim did not throw insults back. She focused on people and on feeling proud while speaking up. βWe need to lead with love and compassionβ was her chosen answer. She added that she wants more kindness and fewer name calls.
The games have always mixed sport and meaning. Now they mix sport with loud politics. Athletes say they will still try to win. They also want to be allowed to speak without being shouted down. That simple point keeps coming up in interviews and posts.
Kim is chasing something historic at these Games. She is 25 and trying to win a third straight gold in the halfpipe, a feat no snowboarder has done before. She is clearly focused on sport and on standing by people she cares about at the same time.
Featured image courtesy of AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
