American skier Hunter Hess appeared to backtrack on the “mixed emotions” he said he had about representing the U.S. at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Hess drew backlash from President Donald Trump and others when he made his initial comments to reporters last week. But after a few days, Hess made clear about wearing the red, white and blue on one of the biggest stages in sports.

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“I love my country,” he wrote with an American flag emoji. “There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better.

“One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out. The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever. I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete.”

Hess’ comments came as the Trump administration faced backlash over the use of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in immigration enforcement operations. An incident with ICE agents in January left Renee Good dead in Minnesota. Border Patrol agents also had a deadly encounter with Alex Pretti.

Hunter Hess of Team United States reacts after competing in the Men’s Ski Superpipe Final on day two of the Dew Tour at Copper Mountain on Feb. 25, 2023 in Copper Mountain, Colorado. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

OLYMPIC SKI STAR AMPS UP ICE CRITICISM AFTER POSTING GRAPHIC PHOTO

Those incidents were apparently used as the catalyst for the comments from Hess and his teammate Chris Lillis. Hess said he had “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S.

“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said.

“I think, for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S. If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.

President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the economy at a rally Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Clive, Iowa.  (Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)

“I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here.”

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Trump ripped Hess for the comments, calling him a “real loser.”

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Dutch female speedskater Jutta Leerdam lived up to the high expectations that were set for her on Monday and captured the gold medal in 1,000-meter speedskating at the Winter Olympics.

Leerdam, the fiancée of boxer Jake Paul, set an Olympic record with a time of 1:12.31. She eclipsed the record that was set by her Dutch teammate Femke Kok just moments before she hit the ice.

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The 27-year-old speedskating star was in tears as she skated around the track, waving to her friends and family in the stands. Paul was in tears as he celebrated with her family. It’s Leerdam’s first Olympic gold medal and second Olympic medal overall.

She came all the way from nearly missing making the Olympic team altogether to call herself a champion.

SANDERS CALLS OLYMPIC SKIER ‘PROUD AMERICAN’ DESPITE HAVING ‘MIXED EMOTIONS’ ABOUT REPRESENTING US

Jake Paul of the U.S., center, cries after his fiancé Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands won the gold medal in the women’s 1,000 meters speedskating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Kok blazed a trail right before her with a time of 1:12.59. She picked up the silver medal and is expected to be in contention for a gold medal at the 500-meter race later in the Games.

Japan’s Miho Takagi finished in third place with a time of 1:39.59.

American Erin Jackson was sitting in first place before the rest of the pairs began. But her time of 1:15.00 even quickly fell. Her teammate Brittany Bowe finished in fourth just behind Takagi with a time of 1:14.55.

Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands in shock after winning the gold medal in the women’s 1,000 meters speedskating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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Team USA has only two medals so far during the Winter Olympics – both gold.

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