HEROES
Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy Battle Trolls Angry They Skipped Olympic Team’s Visit With Trump

President Donald Trump greeted members of the U.S. Olympic Team at the White House Friday, but several of the most popular Olympic athletes declined to attend. 2018 Bronze medal figure skater Adam Rippon and 2014 Silver medal skier Gus Kenworthy took a stand against the Trump administration’s anti-LGBT policies, drawing criticism from conservatives – including those demanding the federal government cut its funding of the two Olympians.
Of course, as many know, the U.S. government does not fund the U.S. Olympic Team – as Kenworthy and Rippon reminded their critics.
To those saying @Adaripp and I shouldn’t get gov’t funding since we skipped the White House visit: WE DON’T! Absolutely $0. The US is one of the only countries that doesn’t pay a penny to it’s Olympic team to train/ compete. All money comes from sponsors and private donations…
— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) April 28, 2018
USOC, unlike its competitors around the world, doesn’t receive any government funding.
— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) April 28, 2018
Rippon also shared why he did not attend:
Olympians from the 2018 Games have been invited to go to the White House today. I will not be going. I will not stand with people who discriminate against those that they perceive as different. In lieu of going to DC, I have donated to a few of my favorite causes 🙆🏼♂️❤ https://t.co/qDXqswTHdF
— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) April 27, 2018
Rippon and Kenworthy were not the only Team USA athletes skipping out on the Trump White House festivities.
All US Olympians and Paralympians are invited to visit the White House and meet the President after the Games. Today is this year’s visit and USOC spokesperson says he’s never seen so many athletes turn down their invites. The resistance is real. https://t.co/6mKJGicWDS
— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) April 26, 2018
Kenworthy also responded directly to a critic attacking him and the “Democrat party”:
The Team USA White House visit isn't an opportunity to have open dialogue. It's a line up of athletes waiting to shake the President's hand. It's a photo op and it's one I'd skip time and time again under the current administration.
— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) April 28, 2018
Lindsey Vonn, Erin Hamlin, Chloe Kim, Jessie Diggins, and David Wise were among those Olympic athletes who also took a stand by not attending, as USA Today notes.
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Image by Gus Kenworthy via Twitter
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