Republican lawmakers and conservatives on social media are blasting a HuffPost article suggesting that it’s understandable that Americans feel less patriotic during the Winter Olympics.
The HuffPost article said U.S. athletes’ feelings about politics and national events can collide with their sense of pride in their country and themselves.
It cited comments by U.S. skier Hunter Hess, who was asked about representing America under the Trump administration. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.,” he said.
Conservatives have flooded social media with photos of American athletes celebrating with U.S. flags and criticized the suggestion that this form of patriotism could be off-putting.
Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin and Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma responded with outrage online, with one telling critics of America to “get the hell out.”
• Juliet La Sala can be reached at jlasala@washingtontimes.com.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.