VP Vance Weighs In on Eileen Gu's Decision to Compete for China

Vance says he hopes American athletes will choose to represent the US at the Olympics.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Vice President JD Vance addressed the controversy over Olympic skier Eileen Gu opting to compete for China instead of the US. Vance said he has 'no idea' what Gu's status 'should be,' but hopes that American citizens would choose to compete for the US on the world stage. Gu, who grew up in California and attended Stanford, has faced criticism for her decision to represent China, where she has lucrative sponsorship deals.

Why it matters

Gu's decision to compete for China has sparked debate about national identity, athlete compensation, and the geopolitical tensions between the US and China. As an American-born athlete, Gu's choice to represent China has raised questions about loyalty and the commercialization of the Olympics.

The details

Eileen Gu, a freestyle skier, opted to compete for China instead of the US in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Gu, who grew up in California and attended Stanford University, said the decision was 'incredibly tough.' She has faced criticism, particularly from Americans, for her choice to represent China, where she has lucrative sponsorship deals worth an estimated $23 million in 2025 alone. Vance said he hopes American athletes will choose to compete for the US, though he acknowledged the decision is ultimately up to the Olympics Committee.

  • Gu made the decision to compete for China in 2019.
  • Gu represented China at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
  • Gu won two silver medals in freestyle skiing in Milan Cortina, in the slopestyle and big air events.
  • Gu has one final event, the halfpipe, remaining on Saturday, February 22, 2026.

The players

JD Vance

The Vice President of the United States.

Eileen Gu

An American-born freestyle skier who chose to compete for China in the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she has won two silver medals.

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What they’re saying

“I have no idea what her status should be, I think that's ultimately up to the Olympics Committee, I won't pretend to wade into that.”

— JD Vance, Vice President (Fox News)

“I certainly think that someone who grew up in the United States of America who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America. So, I'm going to root for American athletes, I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That's who I'm rooting for in this Olympics.”

— JD Vance, Vice President (Fox News)

What’s next

Gu has one final event, the halfpipe, remaining on Saturday, February 22, 2026, where she has the opportunity to add to her two silver medal total.

The takeaway

Eileen Gu's decision to compete for China instead of the US has sparked a debate about national identity, athlete compensation, and the geopolitical tensions between the two countries. As an American-born athlete, Gu's choice has raised questions about loyalty and the commercialization of the Olympics.