JD Vance Calls Out Eileen Gu Over Decision
JD Vance Eileen Gu China Olympics 2026 comments
Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the intensifying controversy surrounding American-born skier Eileen Gu during a televised interview on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Speaking with Martha MacCallum on Fox News’ The Story, Vance expressed disappointment over Gu’s decision to represent China rather than the United States at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. While Vance noted that he would not “wade into” the specific eligibility rules determined by the Olympic Committee, he argued that citizens who have benefited from the American education system and civil liberties should feel a natural desire to compete under the U.S. flag.
The Vice President’s comments come as Gu, 22, remains a lightning rod for criticism in the U.S. despite her massive commercial success. Gu, who was born in San Francisco and currently attends Stanford University, has already secured two silver medals in Milan for the slopestyle and big air events. Vance emphasized his stance on national identity, stating, “I’m going to root for American athletes… people who identify themselves as Americans.” His remarks reflect a broader Republican critique of athletes who leverage American resources while providing a PR boost to an authoritarian regime.
The controversy has been further fueled by reports regarding Gu’s earnings. She remains the highest-paid Winter Olympic athlete in the world, raking in an estimated $23 million in 2025 alone. A recent Wall Street Journal report alleged that the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau paid Gu and fellow American-born athlete Zhu Yi nearly $14 million over the past three years to secure their commitment to the Chinese team. This financial incentive, combined with Gu’s silence on China’s human rights record, has led critics like former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom to label her a “traitor” during recent media appearances.
For her part, Gu has characterized the backlash as a distraction from the “spirit of the Games.” Earlier this week, she expressed sympathy for U.S. freeskier Hunter Hess, who faced his own firestorm after President Trump labeled him a “real loser” for expressing mixed emotions about representing the U.S. Gu told reporters that she feels sorry for athletes caught in the “unwinnable press war” of modern politics. “The whole point of sport is to bring people together,” Gu stated, describing herself as someone who has been repeatedly “caught in the crossfire” of geopolitical tensions.
As the 2026 Winter Olympics enter their final days, Gu is preparing for her marquee event, the halfpipe, scheduled for Saturday. The debate sparked by Vance’s comments highlights the deep fracture in how global superstardom and national loyalty are viewed in the current political climate. This sports drama adds to a week of heavy news, including the DHS government shutdown and the death of Hollywood legend Robert Duvall.
