Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that he wishes U.S.-born Olympic athletes would compete for the United States, weighing in on ongoing criticism of San Francisco-born freestyle skier Eileen Gu as she continues to medal for China at the Winter Olympics in Italy.
“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 Feb. 17 during a Fox News interview. “So, I’m going to root for American athletes and I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for this Olympics.”
Gu, 22, a Stanford student and one of the most recognizable faces in freestyle skiing, has won two silver medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, adding to the three medals she earned at the 2022 Beijing Games while also representing China.
Here’s what to know about Vance and Gu.
Vance comments as Gu continues to medal in Italy
Vance said he did not know what Gu’s citizenship status “should be,” adding that decisions about athlete eligibility ultimately rest with the International Olympic Committee. Under IOC rules, athletes who are nationals of more than one country may represent either nation.
The vice president, who led the U.S. delegation to the Olympics, has been outspoken in defending the Trump administration’s approach to the Games and criticizing athletes who inject politics into Olympic competition. He recently backed President Donald Trump after Trump criticized U.S. freestyle halfpipe skier Hunter Hess, calling him a “loser” following comments about having “mixed emotions” representing the United States.
“When Olympic athletes enter the political arena, they should expect some pushback,” Vance said.
Gu’s California background and why she chose to compete for China
Gu was born and raised in San Francisco and later enrolled at Stanford University, firmly rooted in California. Her mother is from China, and her father is from the United States. Gu has said she embraces her multicultural background and is fluent in both English and Mandarin.
She first began representing China in 2019 and competed for the country at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. In past interviews, Gu has explained that skiing for China offered her an opportunity to help grow the sport and inspire young athletes there.
“The U.S. already has the representation,” Gu told Time ahead of the Games. “I like building my own pond.”
China does not allow dual citizenship, and Gu has declined to publicly clarify her citizenship status, a point that has fueled recurring debate in the United States
Politics, protests and Olympic pushback
The controversy around Gu comes amid renewed U.S.–China tensions and heightened political scrutiny at the Olympics. Vance said he was booed by some spectators during the opening ceremony in Milan after appearing on the stadium’s video board, though he downplayed the reaction.
“I think the media made much ado about nothing with the fact that, yes, in a crowd of 30,000 people, there were certainly some people who disagreed with my policies or the policies of the administration,” Vance told reporters.
Despite the criticism, Gu has continued to perform at the highest level on the world stage, keeping the spotlight on a California-raised athlete whose Olympic success has become entangled with questions of nationality, identity and geopolitics.
Contributing: Chris Bumbaca
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Vance weighs in on California native Eileen Gu competing for China
Reporting by Zac Anderson and James Ward, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
