Bernie Sanders took direct aim at Donald Trump recently after the president lashed out at an American Olympian for daring to express “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S. Skier Hunter Hess, is set to compete in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
Hess faced serious criticism from President Trump, who called the athlete a “real loser” after Hess spoke openly about his feelings regarding the current political climate. Trump claimed Hess should never have tried out for the Olympic team if he felt that way and wrote that it was “very hard to root for someone like this,” and doubled down on his “real loser” comment.
Sanders, who represents Vermont, came swiftly to Hess’s defense. Sanders used his X account to directly address the president’s insult, saying that the U.S. is not a kingdom where people have to pledge unwavering loyalty to the person in charge.
Trump called American Olympian Hunter Hess a “real loser” for criticizing what’s happening in our country under Trump.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 8, 2026
Mr. President, this is not a monarchy. This is the United States and no one is required to bow down to you.
Hess is not a "loser." He's a proud American.
Sanders made it crystal clear that he believes the president is overstepping his bounds. He wrote, “Mr. President, this is not a monarchy. This is the United States, and no one is required to bow down to you.” Sanders finished by strongly supporting the athlete, declaring, “Hess is not a loser. He’s a proud American.”
You’re either with MAGA or you’re a loser, according to Trump
Hess’s comments came as the Trump administration was dealing with significant backlash over immigration enforcement operations, specifically the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. These operations had a tragic outcome, including incidents in January that resulted in the death of Renee Good in Minnesota and another deadly encounter involving Border Patrol agents and Alex Pretti.
These events were the clear catalyst for Hess’s nuanced statement. He explained that representing the country brought up “mixed emotions” because of the political events he wasn’t “the biggest fan of,” noting that a lot of people feel the same way.
The skier clarified that his primary motivation wasn’t to endorse the government’s policies, but rather to honor the people he loves and the values he cherishes. Hess said he was representing his friends and family back home, along with the people who represented the U.S. before him.
He made it clear that he was focused on the things he believes are genuinely good about the country, stating that just wearing the flag doesn’t mean he represents everything currently happening in the United States. He emphasized that he simply wants to perform for the people who support him.
