00:00Olympic skier Hunter Hess is pushing back after President Trump attacked him online and he's not
00:08alone. Other Team USA athletes are now speaking up, defending what they see as their right to
00:14question what the flag represents without rejecting it. On Sunday, Trump called Hess a
00:19quote, real loser on Truth Social after Hess said he had mixed feelings about representing
00:24the United States at the Winter Olympics. It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S.
00:30right now, I think. It's a little hard. There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest
00:37fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't. Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent
00:41everything that's going on in the U.S. Trump responded to those comments, writing,
00:46if that's the case, he shouldn't have tried out for the team, and it's too bad he's on it.
00:51On Monday, Hess responded on social media saying he loves his country, but quote,
00:56there are always things that could be better. Adding one of the many things that makes this
01:00country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out.
01:04Hess is not the only Olympian speaking carefully and publicly about the moment.
01:08Snowboarders Bea, Kim, and Maddie Mastro said they're proud to wear the flag,
01:13while acknowledging the country feels deeply divided. And two-time gold medalist Chloe Kim
01:18also addressed the issue. My parents being immigrants, this one
01:22definitely hits pretty close to home. And I think in moments like these, it is really
01:30important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another, for all that's going on. And I think
01:38that I'm really proud to represent the United States. The U.S. has given my family and I so much
01:46opportunity, but I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions on what's going on.
01:53Meanwhile, figure skater Amber Glenn is facing intense backlash of her own. Glenn, the first
01:59openly queer woman to represent the United States in Olympic figure skating, said the LGBTQ plus community
02:05is going through a, quote, hard time under the current political climate. She says that comment
02:11has triggered what she calls a scary amount of hate and threats, which have lowered her excitement for
02:17the games.
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