U.S. Olympian Hunter Hess said “there’s so much that’s great about America, but there’s always things that could be better,” a day after President Trump pounced on him because he said he had “mixed feelings” on representing the United States at Winter Olympic Games answering last week’s question from a journalist.

“I love my country,” said Hess, a freestyle skier, ua posting on social networks Monday. “There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better. One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to highlight it.

“The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided, we need that more than ever,” Hess said. “I can’t wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete. Thank you all for your support.”

American snowboarders at the Olympics also weighed in when asked by a reporter on Monday whether they wanted to address Mr. Trump by calling Hess “a real loser” or how they felt about representing Team USA.

Bea Kim said she thinks “there are a lot of different opinions in the U.S. right now. Obviously, we’re very divided. Personally, I’m very proud to represent the United States. That being said, I think diversity is what makes us a strong country and what makes us so special.”

Maddie Mastro said she’s proud to represent the United States, but “also sad about what’s going on at home. It’s really hard. I feel like we can’t turn a blind eye to it. But at the same time, I’m representing a country that has the same values ​​as me, kindness and compassion. And we come together in times of injustice.”

“Because my parents are immigrants, this is definitely very close,” said two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim. “I think in times like this it’s really important to come together and stand up for each other, for everything that’s going on. And I think I’m really proud to represent the United States. The U.S. has given my family and me so many opportunities. But I also think we’re allowed to express our opinions about what’s going on. And I think we should lead with love and compassion. And I’d like to see more of that.”

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams told reporters on Monday that he was “not going to add to the discourse” on Mr Trump’s remark.

“I’m not going to comment on a statement from the president of the United States, nor would I for any other head of state,” Adams said.

Asked whether Hess needed more protection after Mr. Trump’s comments, Adams declined to publicly discuss security issues.

The US and Paralympic Committees said Sunday that they are aware of the increasing amount of harmful messages directed at athletes and are doing their best to report credible threats to law enforcement and remove harmful content, the Associated Press reported.

“I think it’s important to say what we feel and stand up for what we believe in and stand up to injustice, and I was very proud to see other athletes do that,” Gus Kenworthy, a skier competing for Great Britain at the 2026 Winter Games, said in a social media video late Sunday.

Last week, Kenworthy, who has dual US-UK citizenship and previously competed for Team USA, posted a photo on social media of an explicit message of condemnation of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The message was written in urine in the snow.

“I just want to remind everybody that you can love the US and be proud to be an American — I am — and still think it can be better, still think the country can be improved,” Kenworthy said. “And just because you love the U.S. doesn’t mean you stand with this administration and stand behind their policies and their legislation and support the things they support. Because I don’t. And I don’t support ICE, and I think that’s absolutely evil and awful and terrifying.”

Last week, Team USA freestyle skier Chris Lillis told reporters, in response to questions about political issues at home, that he felt “heartbroken by what happened in the United States” and that “as a country we need to focus on respecting everyone’s rights and making sure that we treat our citizens, like everyone else, with love and respect.”

Late Sunday, he posted a video on social media of himself falling while trying to ski.

“For all the haters this is one of me crashing to turn you on,” the caption read. “Don’t worry, I’m pretty tough.”

“Athletes have been political and politicized since the ancient games,” J. Simon Rofe, associate professor of sports diplomacy at the University of Leeds, told CBS News.

Rofe mentioned when American track medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in protest on the podium at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico as just one of many examples of Olympic athletes using their positions to take a stand on political issues.

“What is visible (at these Winter Games) is the political action of athletes. So social media platforms provide that opportunity to a much greater extent than we have seen in the past,” Rofe said. “Sports play a big role in society and bringing people together in communities. It allows for conversations that wouldn’t happen otherwise. Now, some of those conversations may be to your taste and mood, and some of them won’t.”