Chloe Kim, who is a two-time Olympic snowboarding gold medallist and a child of immigrant parents, voiced support on Monday for Hunter Hess, a fellow Team USA athlete who drew criticism from President Trump over comments expressing mixed feelings about representing the United States in Milan-Cortina.
“My parents being immigrants, this one definitely hits pretty close to home,” Kim said when asked during a press conference about Hess’ comments and the president’s reaction. “I think in moments like these it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that’s going on and I think that I’m really proud to represent the United States. The US has given my family so much opportunity, but I also think we are allowed to voice our opinions on what’s going on.”
Kim responded after Hess, a freestyle halfpipe skier, said days earlier that he was struggling to represent the United States in competition because of the political climate in his home country, the Hill reported.
“It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now. I think it’s a little hard,” Hess said over the weekend. “There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
President Trump criticised Hess in a Truth Social post on Sunday, calling him a “real loser.”
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“If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it,” the president said. “Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Ahead of this year’s games in Milan Cortina, a number of lawmakers told The Hill they were concerned about the treatment US athletes could face in the wake of Trump’s sweeping foreign policy moves, as well as his divisive immigration policies at home.
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