Scott Bessent calls out Olympic skier Eileen Gu over Chinese decision

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent weighed in on the controversy over American-born Olympic skier Eileen Gu’s decision to compete for China rather than the United States.

During an interview Friday on PK Press Club’ “The Will Cain Show,” Bessent suggested Gu “sold out” with her decision to run for America’s biggest adversary, comparing her to billionaire Democratic donor George Soros.

“It was just like that young Olympic athlete that the vice president was talking about earlier on the previous show. America was great to her, they sold out to China. America was great to Mr. Soros,” Bessent said.

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Bessent referenced comments made by Vice President JD Vance in response to a question about Gu during an interview Tuesday on PK Press Club’ “The Story With Martha MacCallum.”

“I certainly think that someone who grew up in the United States of America and who has benefited from our education system, the freedoms that make this country a great place, I would hope that they would want to compete with the United States of America,” Vance said on “The Story With Martha MacCallum.”

“So I’m going root for American athletes. I think part of that is people who identify as Americans. This is why I support these Olympic Games.”

Gu responded to Vance’s comments on Thursday.

“I’m flattered. Thank you, JD! That’s nice,” Gu said of Vance’s comments, according to USA Today.

Gu was also asked if she currently felt “like a punching bag for a certain part of American politics” after her contest on Thursday.

EILEEN GU GETS REACTION FOR COMMENTING ON TRUMP STATEMENT WHILE REPRESENTING CHINA

“Yes,” she said, according to USA Today. “So many athletes compete for a different country… People only have a problem with me because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they I hate China. So it’s not really about what they think.

“And also, because I’m winning. If I wasn’t doing well, I think they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s fine with me. People are entitled to their opinions.”

Gu has previously said she was “physically attacked” for her decision to represent China.

“The police were called. I received death threats. My dorm was broken into,” Gu told The Athletic. “I experienced some things at 22 that I truly believe no one should ever have to endure.”

Gu has faced global criticism since her decision to represent China, dating back to the initial decision in 2019, and her first Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022. This year, that criticism has intensified, as she has won two silver medals and even responded to a question about President Donald Trump criticizing US Olympian Hunter Hess for criticizing the current state of America.

“I’m sorry that the title that overshadows the Olympics has to be something that has nothing to do with the spirit of the Games. It really goes against everything the Olympics should be about,” Gu told reporters on Monday. “The whole point of sport is to bring people together… One of the rare common languages, that of the human body, that of the human spirit, the competitive spirit, the ability to break not only records, but above all in our sport, literally the human limit. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Gu also claimed that she herself had been “caught in the crossfire.”

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Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China poses for photos after the awards ceremony of the women’s big air freestyle skiing event at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Livigno, Italy, February 16, 2026. (Wang Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images)

“As someone who has been caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes,” Gu said. “I hope they can ski at their best level.”

Gu will compete in the women’s freestyle halfpipe final on Saturday after winning silver in her first two events.