The Winter Olympics have not gotten off to the best start for Team USA. Between Lindsey Vonn breaking her leg and President Donald Trump taking aim at freestyle skier Hunter Hess for voicing his conflicted feelings about representing Team USA, there have been plenty of headlines to talk about.
With Trump holding nothing back against Hess, Chloe Kim has since stepped forward with her own perspective on the issue. The halfpipe snowboarding star has never shied away from discussing the nation’s political climate, especially when it comes to controversies around President Trump.
Chloe Kim Addresses Trump’s Comments on Hess
In a press conference before the opening ceremony of the Games, Hess said it’s “a little hard” to represent the U.S. given the nation’s current divisions, adding that he doesn’t “represent everything” that’s going on at the moment. Trump responded to these comments, calling him a “real loser” and stating that it is “very hard to root for someone like this.”
Kim made her feelings known on Trump’s comments about Hess, saying, “My parents being immigrants, this one hits pretty close to home.
“I think in moments like these, it’s important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that’s going on. I think I’m really proud to represent the United States. The US has given my family and I so much opportunity, but I also think we’re allowed to voice our opinions on what’s going on, and I think we need to lead with love and compassion and I would love to see more of that.”
Kim’s parents are Jong Jin Kim and Boran Yun Kim (also known as Boran Yoon Kim), South Korean immigrants who settled in Southern California. They introduced snowboarding to Chloe when she was four years old, with Jong Jin coaching her early on. The family moved for better opportunities.
Team USA Snowboarders React To Trump’s Comments
Joining Chloe Kim on Team USA’s women’s snowboard halfpipe squad are Bea Kim, Maddie Mastro, and Maddy Schaffrick. Each athlete weighed in after Trump criticized Hess, with Bea expressing pride in representing the nation and celebrating the diversity that sets America apart.
Mastro echoed Hess’s concerns, insisting that the team cannot ignore the realities facing the country. Schaffrick added that the Olympics represent the ultimate gathering of nations, a celebration of unity and spirited competition.
Chloe Kim leads as the two-time defending Olympic champion on Team USA, while Bea Kim and Maddy Schaffrick earned their spots with strong season podiums, and Maddie Mastro qualified as a trailblazer for landing innovative double runs.
