Vice President Vance Comments on Eileen Gu’s Olympic Representation
Vice President J.D. Vance spoke about the ongoing debate regarding Olympic skier Eileen Gu’s decision to compete for China instead of the United States.
In a conversation on Fox News’ “The Story with Martha McCallum,” Vance expressed that he was uncertain about what Gu’s stance should be. However, he emphasized that he hopes American athletes will choose to represent the U.S. on the global stage.
Vance acknowledged, “I have no idea what her position should be. Ultimately, it’s up to the Olympic Committee. I’m not going to intervene in that.” He further added, “If you grew up in America and benefited from the freedoms and education system here, you want to compete for the U.S. So, I’m supporting American athletes, some of whom I believe identify as American.”
Eileen Gu has faced considerable criticism, especially from her fellow Americans, for her choice to represent China at the Olympics. She also represented China during the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
Having grown up in California and attended Stanford University, Gu’s background is particularly notable—her mother is a first-generation immigrant from China.
Gu made the choice to compete for China back in 2019, stating it was an “incredibly tough” decision, especially in light of the geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China. This choice has not sat well with many Americans.
Currently, she is the highest-paid Winter Olympian globally, with earnings around $23 million in 2025 alone from endorsements that include both Chinese and Western companies, such as the Bank of China.
Gu has mentioned that her decision to represent China is partly for her mother, who was born there.
In a recent article, it was noted that another American-born athlete, Zhu Yi, who also represents China, received approximately $6.6 million in 2025 from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, contributing to a combined payout of nearly $14 million for both athletes over three years.
While Gu has enjoyed significant success, winning two silver medals in freestyle skiing events in Milan-Cortina, she has not publicly addressed issues surrounding China’s human rights record, including its treatment of Uyghurs and the imprisonment of activist Jimmy Lai. She has one final event, the halfpipe, scheduled for Saturday, where she could further add to her medal count.
JD Vance comments on Eileen Gu’s choice to represent China rather than the US in the Olympics
Vice President Vance Comments on Eileen Gu’s Olympic Representation
Vice President J.D. Vance spoke about the ongoing debate regarding Olympic skier Eileen Gu’s decision to compete for China instead of the United States.
In a conversation on Fox News’ “The Story with Martha McCallum,” Vance expressed that he was uncertain about what Gu’s stance should be. However, he emphasized that he hopes American athletes will choose to represent the U.S. on the global stage.
Vance acknowledged, “I have no idea what her position should be. Ultimately, it’s up to the Olympic Committee. I’m not going to intervene in that.” He further added, “If you grew up in America and benefited from the freedoms and education system here, you want to compete for the U.S. So, I’m supporting American athletes, some of whom I believe identify as American.”
Eileen Gu has faced considerable criticism, especially from her fellow Americans, for her choice to represent China at the Olympics. She also represented China during the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
Having grown up in California and attended Stanford University, Gu’s background is particularly notable—her mother is a first-generation immigrant from China.
Gu made the choice to compete for China back in 2019, stating it was an “incredibly tough” decision, especially in light of the geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China. This choice has not sat well with many Americans.
Currently, she is the highest-paid Winter Olympian globally, with earnings around $23 million in 2025 alone from endorsements that include both Chinese and Western companies, such as the Bank of China.
Gu has mentioned that her decision to represent China is partly for her mother, who was born there.
In a recent article, it was noted that another American-born athlete, Zhu Yi, who also represents China, received approximately $6.6 million in 2025 from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, contributing to a combined payout of nearly $14 million for both athletes over three years.
While Gu has enjoyed significant success, winning two silver medals in freestyle skiing events in Milan-Cortina, she has not publicly addressed issues surrounding China’s human rights record, including its treatment of Uyghurs and the imprisonment of activist Jimmy Lai. She has one final event, the halfpipe, scheduled for Saturday, where she could further add to her medal count.
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