Chinese Olympic star Eileen Gu fires back at JD Vance after he criticized her for not representing U.S.
Vice President JD Vance has criticized American athletes for speaking out on political issues during the Olympics. He also questioned skier Eileen Gu’s decision to compete for China instead of the United States. Now, the 22-year-old freestyle star is responding.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy have been a historic success for Team USA. American athletes secured 12 gold medals — a new national record — and surpassed 30 total medals for the first time outside North America.
Despite the athletic achievements, politics have dominated portions of the conversation. Several U.S. athletes have shared mixed feelings about representing their country amid controversy surrounding some of President Trump’s policies.
“You’re not there to pop off about politics,” Vance told reporters when asked about athletes voicing political opinions during the Games.
“When Olympic athletes enter the political arena, they should expect some pushback,” he added, according to USA Today.
President Trump also criticized American skier Hunter Hess after Hess remarked, “Wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
Eileen Gu’s Record-Breaking Run
Meanwhile, Eileen Gu has continued to dominate the slopes. She qualified for the halfpipe finals on February 21 and captured gold, bringing her Olympic medal count to five — making her the most decorated female freeskier in Olympic history.
Her victory, however, has reignited debate over her decision to represent China.
In a February 17 interview with Fox News, Vance suggested that athletes who grow up in the United States should compete for Team USA.
“I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United States of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope that they want to compete with the United States of America,” Vance said.
He added that he supports athletes who “identify themselves as Americans” and noted that Gu’s competitive status was ultimately up to the Olympic committee.
Raised in San Francisco, Competing for China
Gu was born in San Francisco to a Chinese immigrant mother and an American father. Raised by her mother, Yan Gu, in the city’s Sea Cliff neighborhood, she began skiing at just three years old in Lake Tahoe. By age eight, she had joined the Northstar California Resort free-ski team, and a year later, she won her first national championship.
In 2019, Gu announced she would compete for China. Since then, she has represented the country in halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air events. She has not publicly clarified her citizenship status. While Olympic rules allow athletes with dual nationality to choose which country to represent, China does not recognize dual citizenship.
Gu Responds
After a qualifying run, Gu was asked whether she felt like a “punching bag” in American politics.
“I do,” she acknowledged. “So many athletes compete for a different country. People only have a problem with me doing it because they lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.”
She added that her success may amplify criticism.
“If I wasn’t doing well, I think they probably wouldn’t care as much — and that’s OK for me. People are entitled to their opinions.”
In a separate interview with USA Today, she offered a brief response to Vance’s remarks: “I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet.” She also made clear that she was not offended.
Focused on Inspiration, Not Politics
Gu, who previously won two gold medals and a silver at the 2022 Beijing Games, emphasized that her motivation extends beyond politics.
“I do what I do because I want to inspire the next generation of young women,” she said. “I’ve said this since I was 10. No one was paying me when I was 10. No country wanted me to ski for them when I was 10. I’ve had the same principle since I was prepubescent. If people don’t believe me, at a certain point, that’s just on them.”
She also described the Olympics as a platform for unity.
“The Olympics is about bringing people together, using sport as a spirit of communication,” she said. “If people want to focus on the wrong things, they just have a sad little life.”
