The Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, was critical of Ailing Eileen Gu and made his stance clear, saying he would only back athletes who identify as Americans. Gu competed in the slopestyle and big air events at the 2026 Winter Olympics, winning silver in both. She will also look to defend her halfpipe gold medal.
The US-born Chinese skier continues to face backlash for changing her nationality for global competitions in 2019, but it has never fazed her on the global stage.
JD Vance Breaks Silence about Eileen Gu Representing China Despite Being American-Born
Gu was born in San Francisco, California, in the United States, to a first-generation Chinese immigrant mother, Yan Gu, and an American father. She initially represented Team USA, but after the 2018–19 season, she requested that the International Ski Federation change her national representation, a move that sparked significant controversy.
The Chinese Consulate General in New York stated that the freeskier would need to obtain permanent residency in China. However, in 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Justice expanded eligibility for residency for individuals with recognized backgrounds in sports, technology, and other fields. The 22-year-old often identifies as both American and Chinese, depending on which country she is in.
JD Vance, who was present at the Games on behalf of Donald Trump this year, expressed disapproval of someone competing for a different country after benefiting from growing up in the United States. He also sent his support for athletes who only identify as Americans, saying:
“Someone who grew up in the USA, benefitted from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties, that make this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the USA. So, I’m going to root for American athletes…part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I am rooting for this Olympics,” he said on Fox News live.
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Gu has been vocal about her goal of growing the freeskiing community on multiple occasions in public settings. One of the highest-earning Winter Olympians, she spoke candidly during the 2022 Winter Olympics about why she chose to represent China.
According to her, while the United States has many icons making an impact both nationally and globally, there was no prominent figure that many Chinese people could look up to in her sport. She wanted to become that role model, draw more attention to freeskiing, and inspire young girls to pursue it.
Gu also emphasized being a bridge between the US and China, embracing both cultures and respectfully integrating them rather than forcing anything.
