Team USA's Hunter Hess, targeted by Trump over comments, flashes "L" sign after Olympic halfpipe qualifying

February 20, 2026

TL;DR

Hunter Hess qualified for the Olympic halfpipe final after facing criticism from President Trump.
Hess had previously stated that representing the U.S. during heightened immigration enforcement brought "mixed emotions."
President Trump called Hess a "Loser" on TruthSocial for his comments.
Hess used the controversy as motivation, nailing his qualifying runs.
He expressed his love for the United States and Team USA, despite the "hate" he received.
The incident led to threats against his family and made training difficult.

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