Gus Kenworthy hits back at angry critics over White House boycott
Gus Kenworthy was one of the many athletes who turned down their invites on Friday (April 27)
Gus Kenworthy has hit back at critics unhappy that he boycotted the White House reception for Winter Olympians on Friday (April 27).
The Olympic freestyle skier announced on Thursday that he was among several Team US athletes who had turned down their invitation to meet Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at the White House reception.
Kenworthy tweeted: “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.”
The 26-year-old athlete was hit with backlash after his tweet, with many users claiming that US athletes shouldn’t get government funding for skipping the reception.
Kenworthy hit back at the haters on Twitter, writing: “To those saying @Adaripp and I shouldn’t get gov’t funding since we skipped the White House visit: WE DON’T!
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
“Absolutely $0. The US is one of the only countries that doesn’t pay a penny to its Olympic team to train/compete. All money comes from sponsors and private donations.”
Adam Rippon, who also boycotted the White House reception, agreed with the tweet and replied: “Go off mom.”