Donald Trump lashed out at U.S. Olympic skier Hunter Hess after the 27-year-old told reporters he had “mixed emotions” about representing his country at this year’s Games.
“There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said during a news conference Friday in Milan. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, the president criticized the first-time Olympian for his comments. “U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” Trump wrote. “If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this.”
Hess has since responded to Trump’s comments, writing on social media that while “there is so much that is great about America,” there are also “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 point that out,” he added.
Following the back-and-forth, MS NOW’s Joe Scarborough blasted Trump for his remarks and called Hess’ comments “tepid” and “pretty mild,” adding that the Olympian’s words reflected what the “overwhelming majority of Americans believe.”
Scarborough pointed to polls that showed just how unpopular some of Trump’s priorities were with the American people, including his immigration crackdown and his calls to invade Greenland.
The “Morning Joe” co-host also criticized Trump for his double standard when it comes to freedom of expression, pointing out that the president’s call to “punish people for exercising free speech” is not a sign of a healthy democracy.
“That’s what the Soviets did. That’s what Communist China does. That’s what North Korea does,” he said. “That’s not what Americans do.”
According to Scarborough, Trump’s comments were reflective of a much larger issue among some on the right, who have abandoned their staunch defense of the First Amendment.
Although they claim to be supporters of free speech, he argued, they are “just the opposite.” Even “tepid” criticism of Trump and his policies often ignites backlash.
“The hypocrisy has just been unbelievable,” Scarborough said. “Suddenly, these people who are First Amendment absolutists are the very ones saying, ‘Let’s punish people when they speak their mind.’”
You can watch Scarborough’s full comments in the clip at the top of the page.
Allison Detzel is an editor/producer for MS NOW. She was previously a segment producer for “AYMAN” and “The Mehdi Hasan Show.”