Avid Trump supporter and former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason is tired of hearing from the scores of Team USA athletes critical of the White House.
Throughout these Olympics, the United States’ contingent has seen multiple athletes using their platform to be vocally critical of the political direction the country has been taking since Trump took office for the second time.
Whether it’s figure skater Amber Glenn expressing support for her fellow LGBTQ+ community members, or curling star Rich Ruohonen decrying ICE operations in his native Minnesota or skier Hunter Hess making it clear that he ‘doesn’t represent everything that’s going on in the US,’ athletes are making their voices known.
On an episode of his radio show ‘Boomer and Gio’ which aired on Tuesday, Esiason essentially told them all to shut up and skate/curl/ski.
Esiason revealed that he watched Team USA win team gold in figure skating over the weekend. His co-host, Greg Giannotti, riled Esiason up by asking if he thought those competitors were ‘happy to represent America.’
‘They seem to be happy to represent America,’ Esiason said. ‘Not everybody is, but everybody should just pipe down and just do their sport and play for our country and respect the flag and respect everything that’s going on.’
Trump supporter Boomer Esiason wants Team USA to stop talking politics at the Olympics
Olympians Amber Glenn (L), Hunter Hess (center) and Rich Ruohonen (R) have all used their platforms to speak out against the political direction of the United States in recent months
Esiason has a history of not only supporting Trump, but being vocally against players who use their platform to protest against perceived injustices in the country.
Back when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee in protest of police brutality in 2016, Esiason called it an ’embarrassment’ and called him ‘severely under-informed.’
Hess’ comments in particular have been criticized, including by President Trump who lambasted him on social media.
‘U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,’ Trump said in a post to Truth Social – slightly distorting Hess’ words.
‘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!’
President Trump hit back at Hess in a post to his Truth Social account, calling him a ‘real loser’
Trump’s backlash led to snowboard star Chloe Kim defending Hess’ right to an opinion
This interaction led to reporters asking snowboarding star Chloe Kim her thoughts on the matter.
The two-time Olympic snowboard gold medalist defended her teammate’s right to free speech.
‘My parents being immigrants, this one hits pretty close to home and I think in moments like these it’s important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another for all that’s going on and I think I’m really proud to represent the United States,’ Kim responded.
‘The US has given my family and I so much opportunity but I also think we’re allowed to voice our opinions on what’s going on and I think we need to lead with love and compassion and I would love to see more of that.’