Hunter Hess Finishes 10th After Defiant ‘L’ Gesture as Trump Feud Shadows Olympic Run

Overview

• In the Milan–Cortina men's halfpipe final, Hess placed 10th of 11 after two falls, a lost ski, and a best score of 58.75.
• He had qualified fifth for the final, positioning himself as an outside contender before the medal runs.
• After qualifying, he formed an “L” on his forehead and told cameras, “Apparently, I’m a loser,” referencing Trump’s remark.
• Photos showed the gesture appearing inverted, prompting mockery and interpretations online over whether it was a mistake or intentional.
• Hess told CNN International the past two weeks were the hardest of his life after President Donald Trump called him “an authentic loser” on Truth Social following his comments about not representing everything happening in the United States.