Winter Olympians noticeably skip Donald Trump’s White House celebration.
Thursday was a big day for Donald Trump and the White House.
Trump hosted more than 120 athletes, coaches, and staff from Team USA at the White House on Thursday. The reception honored American competitors for their historic performance at the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Italy.
Dozens of athletes across sports like figure skating, curling, luge, bobsledding, snowboarding, and alpine skiing filled the East Room. However, not everything went according to plan.
A Tense White House Celebration For Donald Trump
The political world is colliding with sports once again. Over the past few months, Trump has had quite a few run-ins with sports stars or with sports overall.
Trump hosted a special reception in the East Room to celebrate Team USA’s incredible winter sports heroes. Nearly half of the qualifying American competitors traveled to Washington to participate in the formal event. Therefore, a substantial crowd filled the risers to meet the commander-in-chief.
However, the blatant absence of certain notable athletic figures quickly became the primary talking point of the entire afternoon. Specifically, 27-year-old freestyle skier Hunter Hess was absent from the audience after previously expressing mixed feelings about the administration.
Why Olympic Stars Noticeably Snubbed Trump
The ongoing friction between these elite athletes and the executive branch is not entirely new. Previously, Donald Trump publicly labeled Hess a “real loser” following critical comments made during the global tournament. To counter the insult, Hess successfully launched a popular apparel brand using that exact phrase to fund youth sports initiatives. Hess, who hails from Bend, Oregon, said during a press availability that “just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.” His comments came weeks after two deadly incidents involving federal officers in Minneapolis.
Furthermore, ice dancers Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik released a video on social media stating their refusal to attend.
While some decorated champions like Jordan Stolz happily gifted the president custom Team USA gear, the undercurrent of athletic resistance remained highly visible.
Donald Trump has yet to comment on Hess’s absence.
