Team USA athletes have responded after President Donald Trump branded their Winter Olympics teammate Hunter Hess a “real loser”.

The 27-year-old freestyle skier claimed that it was a “little hard” to be representing the US team in Milan-Cortina amid the political turmoil back at home, leading to a typically combative response from Trump on social media.

“It’s a little hard. 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 over the weekend.

“I think for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and my family back home … all the things that I believe are good about the United States.

“Just because I wear the flag, it doesn’t mean I represent everything that is going on in the US. I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family for the people that support me getting here.”

Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Sunday (US time), saying Hess’ comments had made it “hard to root for” him to be successful at the Winter Olympics.

“US Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” he 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. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Team USA athletes were asked about the comments on Tuesday (AEDT).

Two-time halfpipe champion Chloe Kim, whose parents emigrated from South Korea, said “we need to lead with love and compassion and I would love to see some more of that”.

“Obviously, my parents being immigrants, this one definitely hits pretty close to home and I think in moments like these, it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another, for all that’s going on,” Kim said.

“I think that I’m really proud to represent the United States. The US has given my family and I so much opportunity, but I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions on what’s going on.”

Snowboarder Maddie Mastro said she was “saddened” by what was happening in the US.

“It’s really tough, and I feel like we can’t turn a blind eye to that,” she said.

“At the same time, I represent a country that has the same values as mine of kindness and compassion, and we come together in times of injustice.”

Fellow snowboarder Bea Kim, whose grandparents immigrated to the US from Korea, said she was very proud to represent America.

“That being said, I think diversity is what makes us a very strong country and what makes us so special,” Kim said.

“I don’t think there’s anywhere else in the world where you can really have the opportunity to do whatever you want.”

Meanwhile, Hess’ team-mate Chris Lillis said he was “heartbroken” about the Trump administration’s aggressive anti-immigration rhetoric following the deaths of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis in January.

“A lot of times, athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things. I feel heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure you’re referencing ICE and some of the protests and things like that. I think that as a country, we need to focus on representing everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody, with love and respect.”

-with AAP/Reuters