Scott Bessent name out Olympic skier Eileen Gu over China determination

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent weighed in on the controversy over the American-born Olympic skier Eileen Gu's determination to compete for China over the U.S.

Throughout an interview on Fox Information' "The Will Cain Present" on Friday, Bessent recommended Gu "bought out" along with her determination to compete for America's best adversary, evaluating her to billionaire Democrat donor George Soros.

"It was identical to this younger Olympic athlete that the Vice President was speaking about earlier on the earlier present. America was nice to her, she bought out to China. America was nice to Mr. Soros," Bessent mentioned.

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Eileen Gu of Group Folks's Republic of China falls within the Girls's Freeski Halfpipe Qualification 1 on day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic video games at Livigno Air Park on Feb. 19, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Pictures)

Bessent referenced feedback made by Vice President JD Vance in response to a query about Gu throughout a Tuesday interview on Fox Information' "The Story With Martha MacCallum."

"I definitely suppose that somebody who grew up in the US of America who benefited from our schooling system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this nation an awesome place, I'd hope they wish to compete with the US of America," Vance mentioned on "The Story With Martha MacCallum."

"So, I'll root for American athletes. I feel a part of that's individuals who establish themselves as Individuals. That is who I am rooting for on this Olympics."

Gu responded to Vance's feedback on Thursday.

"I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s candy," Gu mentioned of Vance's feedback, per USA Right this moment.

Gu was additionally requested if she at present feels "like a little bit of a punching bag for a sure strand of American politics" after her competitors on Thursday.

EILEEN GU GARNERS BACKLASH FOR COMMENTING ON TRUMP'S STATEMENT WHILE REPRESENTING CHINA

"I do," she mentioned, per USA Right this moment. "So many athletes compete for a unique nation. ... Folks solely have an issue with me doing it as a result of they sort of lump China into this monolithic entity, and so they simply hate China. So it is probably not about what they suppose it is about.

"And in addition, as a result of I win. Like if I wasn't doing effectively, I feel that they in all probability would not care as a lot, and that is OK for me. Persons are entitled to their opinions."

Gu has beforehand mentioned she was "bodily assaulted" for her determination to characterize China.

"The police have been known as. I’ve had demise threats. I’ve had my dorm robbed," Gu advised The Athletic. "I’ve gone via some issues as a 22-year-old that I actually suppose nobody ought to ever should endure, ever."

Gu has been the topic of worldwide criticism since her determination to characterize China relationship again to the unique determination in 2019, and her first Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022. This yr, that criticism has ramped up, as she has received two silver medals and even responded to a query about President Donald Trump criticizing U.S. Olympian Hunter Hess for being vital of the present state of America.

"I’m sorry that the headline that's eclipsing the Olympics must be one thing so unrelated to the spirit of the Video games. It actually runs opposite to all the things the Olympics must be," Gu advised reporters Monday. "The entire level of sport is to deliver 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 data, however particularly in our sport, actually the human restrict. How great is that?"

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

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Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China poses for photographs after the awarding ceremony of the freestyle snowboarding girls's freeski large air occasion on the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Video games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Wang Peng/Xinhua by way of Getty Pictures)

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

Gu will compete within the girls's freestyle snowboarding halfpipe last on Saturday after successful silvers in her first two occasions.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports activities reporter for Fox Information Digital overlaying vital 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.