Crew China skier Eileen Gu criticized for Trump feedback

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American-born Crew China Olympic skier Eileen Gu got here below immense scrutiny on social media this week after making feedback about President Donald Trump's latest criticism of U.S. Olympian Hunter Hess.

Gu, who was born in San Francisco, is the highest-paid Winter Olympic athlete on this planet, making an estimated $23 million in 2025 alone in partnerships with Chinese language firms, together with the Financial institution of China, and western firms. Gu has mentioned she represents China for her mom, who was born there.

Gu has by no means spoken out towards China's alleged human rights abuses, together with the nation's alleged systematic marketing campaign of repression towards Uyghurs and different predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Area.

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Gold medalist Eileen Gu of China celebrates in the course of the medal ceremony for the ladies's freestyle snowboarding large air on the 2022 Winter Olympics Feb. 8, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Picture/Natacha Pisarenko)

Nevertheless, Gu has commented on Trump's criticism of Hess for expressing "blended feelings" about representing the U.S. in Milan Cortina.

"I’m sorry that the headline that's eclipsing the Olympics needs to be one thing so unrelated to the spirit of the Video games. It actually runs opposite to every part the Olympics needs to be," Gu informed reporters Monday.

"The entire level of sport is to carry folks collectively. … One of many only a few widespread languages, that of the human physique, that of the human spirit, the aggressive spirit, the capability to interrupt not solely information, however particularly in our sport, actually the human restrict. How fantastic is that?"

Gu additionally claimed she had been "caught within the crossfire" herself.

"As somebody who has received caught within the crossfire earlier than, I really feel sorry for the athletes," Gu mentioned. "I hope that they will ski to their best possible."

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Eileen Gu celebrates successful the gold medal after competing within the Freestyle Snowboarding Ladies's Halfpipe Last in the course of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Video games at Genting Snow Park. (Danielle Parhizkaran/USA As we speak Sports activities)

Gu's feedback have incited backlash on social media, with many critics mentioning that Gu has by no means spoken out towards China for its alleged human rights violations.

Former NBA participant Enes Kanter Freedom blasted Gu in a prolonged X put up, calling her a "traitor."

"Eileen Gu is a traitor. She was born in America, raised in America, lives in America, and selected to compete towards her personal nation for the worst human rights abuser on the planet, China. She constructed her fame in a free nation, then selected to characterize an authoritarian regime whereas cashing in on endorsements linked by watchdog teams to mass detention and compelled labor camps. When human rights come up, she disappears," Kanter wrote.

"That’s not neutrality. That’s a alternative. She selected to play for a rustic accountable for the deaths of tens of hundreds of thousands of its personal folks and that's working focus camps proper now, as a substitute of the nation the place she was born and given alternative."

Hudson Institute senior fellow Michael Sobolik additionally identified Gu's silence on China's alleged persecution of Uyghurs and the political imprisonment of people who oppose Xi Jinping.

"Hear, it’s advantageous for athletes to criticize the U.S. president. It additionally isn’t that fascinating as a result of it occurs on a regular basis. What’s fascinating about this story … is that Eileen Gu is an American skier competing for China. No point out about whether or not the CCP’s genocide of Uyghurs ‘runs opposite to every part the Olympics needs to be.’ No criticism of Xi Jinping for the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, Pastor Ezra Jin, Gulshan Abbas, or China’s many different political prisoners," Sobolik wrote on X.

"In case you criticize America however received’t say a phrase concerning the CCP, that claims lots about you. In case you’re an American athlete that leverages the liberty this nation has given you to characterize an authoritarian regime, that claims much more."

Republican communications specialist Matt Whitlock echoed comparable criticism of Gu in an X put up.

"Cannot think about a worse voice on this subject than an athlete who threw away her American citizenship for Chinese language Communist Social gathering endorsement offers. Does Eileen Gu have any criticism for Xi Jinping for genocide, slavery, and arresting dissenters?" Whitlock wrote.

A number of different X customers spoke out towards Gu.

Trump has been one of the crucial mentioned figures at this yr's Winter Olympics, and several other athletes have made suggestive criticisms of his dealing with of the U.S., together with Hess.

Trump made a scathing put up on social media, calling Hess a "actual loser."

"U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, an actual Loser, says he doesn’t characterize his Nation within the present Winter Olympics," he wrote.

"If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Crew, and it’s too unhealthy he’s on it. Very onerous to root for somebody like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

Hess initially mentioned of representing the U.S., "It brings up blended feelings to characterize the U.S. proper now, I feel. It’s slightly onerous. There’s clearly lots happening that I’m not the largest fan of, and I feel lots of people aren’t.

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China's Eileen Gu reacts on the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (David Davies/PA Pictures by way of Getty Pictures)

"I feel, for me, it’s extra I’m representing my family and friends again residence, the those that represented it earlier than me, all of the issues that I imagine are good concerning the U.S. If it aligns with my ethical values, I really feel like I’m representing it. Simply because I’m carrying the flag does not imply I characterize every part that’s happening within the U.S.

"I simply type of need to do it for my buddies and my household and the those that help me getting right here."

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Jackson Thompson is a sports activities reporter for Fox Information Digital masking important political and cultural points in sports activities, with an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited in federal authorities actions associated to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media retailers together with The New York Instances, The Los Angeles Instances, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Related Press and ESPN.com.