US Olympians speaking up about politics at home face online backlash - including from Trump

US Olympians Face Online Backlash for Speaking Out Against Trump Administration Policies

American athletes competing in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics have faced a harsh online backlash after speaking out against administration policies, with US President Donald Trump weighing in on social media.

Hunter Hess, a freestyle skier, sparked controversy when he said that he felt a mix of emotions about representing his country, adding that "if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I'm representing it." He also stated that wearing the flag doesn't mean he represents everything going on in the US. Trump responded by calling Hess a "real loser" who should not have tried out for the team.

Other athletes, including Chris Lillis and Amber Glenn, have also faced criticism from conservative figures and ordinary Americans. Glenn received a large amount of hate mail and threats after expressing her opinions on social media.

The US Olympic Committee has acknowledged an increase in abusive messages directed towards athletes and is working to remove content and report credible threats to law enforcement. The committee released a statement saying they stand firmly behind Team USA athletes and remain committed to their well-being and safety.

As tensions rise between the Trump administration and its critics, athletes competing overseas are facing increasingly difficult decisions about how to represent their country. While some have spoken out against administration policies, others have faced backlash for doing so, highlighting the challenges of being a public figure in today's polarized climate.

Demonstrations against ICE agents have taken place in Milan, with protesters clashing with police on Saturday. The situation has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of athletes competing abroad.

I'm totally surprised by this online backlash against US Olympians who dared to speak out against Trump's policies . I mean, come on, they're just trying to do their job and represent their country in a positive way! shouldn't we be celebrating their courage and commitment to what's right? instead of tearing them down with hurtful words and threats? it's just so frustrating when people try to silence dissenting voices, especially those who are vulnerable and already under pressure.

the fact that some athletes are receiving hate mail and threats is absolutely unacceptable . the US Olympic Committee should be doing more to protect its athletes from online harassment, not just saying they're committed to their well-being and safety (which sounds like a pretty standard PR statement). where's the real action? where's the concrete support for these athletes who are already going through so much?

anyway, it's just another example of how polarized we've become as a society . people on opposite sides of the spectrum can't even agree to disagree without resorting to name-calling and vitriol. it's like we're living in some kind of alternate reality where civility has gone out the window .

I'm all for these US Olympians speaking out! They're just trying to be true to themselves and their values, which is pretty cool. I mean, if they don't agree with something, it's okay to say so and not just go along with the crowd. It's like, they're representing their country, but also themselves, you know?

It's a tough spot to be in, especially when there are people online who can get pretty aggressive. I'm all for them having a platform to express themselves and for the US Olympic Committee to support them. The whole situation is just highlighting how divided we are as a society right now . And yeah, it's not exactly safe for athletes to be speaking out like this while competing abroad...

I don't love how some US Olympians are getting roasted online for speaking out against Trump's policies . I get it, they have the right to their opinions, but it's harsh when people call them a "loser" or threaten them over social media . At the same time, I can see why they'd want to express themselves and not just sit back and represent everything that's going on in the US .

I'm kinda worried about these athletes competing overseas right now... with all the protests and tensions, it's hard for them to know what's safe and what's not . The Olympic Committee is trying to do their part by removing abusive content and reporting threats, but I think more needs to be done to protect our athletes . It's a tough spot to be in, but I hope they can stay focused on the games and not get too caught up in all this drama

Ugh, can't believe what's happening to these athletes . I mean, I get it, they're trying to stand up for what they believe in, but this online backlash is getting out of hand . It's not like they're speaking out against the flag or their fellow teammates, just against some policies that don't align with their values.

And Trump chiming in on social media? Come on, dude . That just adds fuel to the fire and makes it worse for these athletes who are already under a lot of pressure to perform.

I'm actually worried about these athletes competing abroad right now. The situation in Milan is getting pretty intense, with protests and police clashing... it's not exactly the most ideal environment for them to be in . And all because they're trying to speak out? It's just not fair .

I'm literally shook by this . Like, these athletes are just trying to speak their minds and stand up for what they believe in, but instead of getting support, they're getting roasted online. It's like, come on guys, can't we have a respectful conversation about politics? And Trump weighing in is just extra . I feel bad for the athletes who are getting hate mail and threats, it's not okay to bully people over their opinions.

I'm also worried about the safety of these athletes competing abroad. The situation with ICE agents here in Milan is concerning, and now they're going to be targets too? It's like, can't we all just get along? I hope the US Olympic Committee takes this seriously and does something to protect these athletes.

It's not about politics, it's about human rights and respect for each other. We should be supporting our athletes, not tearing them down .

can you believe how crazy it gets when athletes try to speak up? like what's next gonna happen... i had this weird dream last night that i was a professional snail trainer and i won a gold medal at the Olympics, but then i got disqualified for wearing the wrong shell accessories . anyway, back to the athletes - i feel bad for them having to deal with all this hate mail and stuff. shouldn't they be able to just compete in peace? like, what's the point of even being an athlete if you're not gonna represent your values?

Ugh, can't believe what's going on over here... So these US Olympians are speaking out against Trump admin policies and now they're getting roasted online? Like, isn't that kinda the point of having a platform as an athlete? They're trying to make a difference, not just collect a medal. And now Trump is coming for them like some kind of entitled snowflake. It's so sad when people get hurt over their opinions... The US Olympic Committee is trying to do something about it, but I don't think that's enough. We need to figure out how to make the internet less toxic, you know? Can't we all just get along? This whole situation is just a mess and I'm not even sure why these athletes felt like they had to speak out... maybe they're just tired of being told what to do all the time. Whatever, it's just another example of how hard it is for people to express themselves without getting hate mail... sigh.

so US Olympians are speaking out against Trump policies but they're still getting roasted online... like what's good for them? Their mental health is more important than winning a gold medal did you know that 75% of athletes experience anxiety, depression or both? it's crazy how much pressure there is to conform to the national agenda... 60% of US adults support the current administration but only 27% trust the media? what's happening over there?!

Ugh, can't believe what's happening to these Olympic athletes . I mean, I get it, they're speaking out against some pretty sketchy policies, but do they have to face all this online hate? It's just not cool. And Trump's response is just low-key ridiculous. Like, who uses the word "loser" on Twitter? . But what really gets me is that these athletes are just trying to live their best lives and represent their country in a positive way, and they're getting roasted for it.

And can we talk about how this reflects on the US Olympic Committee? They need to step up their game and protect these athletes from all this online abuse. It's not okay to have to deal with hate mail and threats, especially when you're just trying to do your thing . The situation is getting pretty intense, too - protests against ICE agents in Milan are raising concerns about athlete safety... yikes .

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I'm all for our athletes speaking out against policies they don't agree with! They're representing their country, not just the politicians in power. It's hard enough to be an athlete without having to worry about online trolls .

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But at the same time, I feel bad for those athletes getting hate mail and threats. That's not okay . The US Olympic Committee needs to do more to protect their athletes and keep them safe online.

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Maybe this is an opportunity for us as a society to have some real conversations about free speech, online harassment, and the responsibility that comes with being a public figure.

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Let's hope our athletes feel empowered to speak out without fear of retribution... but also know they're not alone if things get tough

I feel kinda bad for these athletes, you know? They're just trying to stay true to themselves and what they believe in, but now they're getting roasted online by people who disagree with them. It's like, fair enough that we've got differing opinions, but to resort to hate mail and threats is just not cool . And the fact that some folks are calling them "losers" and whatnot? That's just low.

I think it's time for us all to take a step back and remember that athletes, especially those representing their country, should be able to express themselves without fear of backlash . It's not about being patriotic or not; it's about standing up for what you believe in and being proud of who you are. Let's give these guys some space and respect for speaking out

I'm low-key concerned about these US Olympians facing online hate for speaking up . It's one thing to be patriotic, but it doesn't mean you have to agree with everything your country is doing. I get that Trump's a polarizing figure, and the athletes' comments might've been misinterpreted, but still... it's not cool when people come after them on social media .

I feel like we're living in a time where being an athlete or public figure comes with a lot of responsibility, and sometimes that means taking risks. It's not always easy to speak out, especially when you're representing your country on the world stage . The US Olympic Committee should do more to protect these athletes from online harassment, imo .

The fact that demonstrations against ICE agents took place in Milan is a whole other level of concern . Athletes competing abroad shouldn't have to worry about safety or well-being because of politics . We need to create a culture where public figures feel empowered to speak up without facing online backlash, you know?

I'm not surprised really, this is just how toxic online discourse is now. People can't even speak their minds without getting roasted by some keyboard warrior. It's like, if they're gonna attack someone for speaking out, at least have the decency to do it in person or over a phone call . Instead, you get a bunch of anonymous trolls spewing venom and hate mail. And what really gets my goat is that these athletes are just trying to do their thing and represent their country with integrity. They shouldn't be forced to apologize for standing up for what they believe in . It's like the US Olympic Committee is enabling this kind of behavior by not taking stronger action against the trolls. I mean, come on, if you're gonna let some athlete get bullied online, when are you gonna do something about it?

It's crazy to see how one person can stir up so much drama . I mean, these athletes are just trying to do their thing and represent their country, but it feels like they're taking a huge risk by speaking out against the admin . I get it, we all have our values, but in this case, it's like they're walking on eggshells . The fact that Trump is chiming in online and calling them out is just ridiculous . Can't we all just disagree without being so nasty? As for the athletes who are facing backlash, I feel for them . It's tough enough competing at a high level, let alone dealing with hate mail and threats . The US Olympic Committee should really do more to protect these kids .

I think it's super weird that people are getting all bent outta shape over some US Olympians speaking up about policies they don't agree with . Like, shouldn't athletes be able to express their opinions without facing an online mob? And what's the big deal if they don't totally love everything the Trump administration is doing? It's not like they're trying to undermine the country or anything .

And can we please call out the real losers here – the ones who are getting all worked up and sending hate mail to athletes? Like, what's the point of even participating in this conversation if you're just gonna resort to name-calling and personal attacks? Let's focus on having a respectful discussion about these issues instead .

I'm seeing this happening more often now . Like, did you know that the US Olympic Committee receives over 10k reports of online harassment every year? And it's not just limited to athletes, but also volunteers and staff . The data says that a huge chunk of these complaints come from conservative-leaning individuals, with 62% of them being male .

And let's talk about the stats . A recent survey found that 71% of American adults say they're more likely to distrust athletes who speak out against government policies . Meanwhile, only 21% of respondents said they'd be more likely to trust them .

It's crazy how much pressure athletes are under to represent their country without offending anyone . And honestly, I think it's time we acknowledge the elephant in the room – social media is a double-edged sword . On one hand, it's an amazing platform for athletes to share their stories and connect with fans . But on the other hand, it can also be a breeding ground for hate speech and harassment .

I'm all for free speech, but come on guys, let's try to keep it civil . We need more athletes like Hunter Hess who are willing to speak out against injustices . And we need to do better as a society to support them instead of tearing them down .