Trump supporters slam Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon for declining White House invite
The Winter Olympic Games are in full swing in PyeongChang, South Korea — and not without controversy.
U.S. figure skater Adam Rippon, who is openly gay, expressed disappointment about Vice President Mike Pence’s presence at the Games. Pence has a history of fighting against LGBTQ rights in the United States. Talking to USA Today in January about Pence leading the U.S. delegation at the Games, Rippon said, “I don’t think he has a real concept of reality. To stand by some of the things that Donald Trump has said and for Mike Pence to say he’s a devout Christian man is completely contradictory.”
Now, following the U.S. figure skating team’s bronze medal win, Rippon said he will not accept an invitation from Donald Trump to visit the White House for an Olympic reception. Trump supporters responded swiftly on social media to Rippon’s snub.
I don’t care if you gay or heterosexual @adaripp I do care if you’re rude to the POTUS! I’LL SKIP WATCHING YOUR PERFORMANCES GOING FORWARD!!!! MAGA.
Olympian Adam Rippon to skip White House reception in protest via the @FoxNews App https://t.co/c4WjY5uxSb— BIG LEAGUE ❤ (@PatriotinMT) February 12, 2018
#AdamRippon you are so talented don’t disrespect us by disrespecting the President and your country. Visit the White House
— Paula Randant (@PaulaRandant1) February 12, 2018
Good let @Adaripp go live in North Korea and see how bad people can really have it. Just bc he doesn't agree with @VP
doesn't give him the right to act like a special spoiled brat that he is.
Glad we won't have to endure a visit from him at WH. @FoxNewshttps://t.co/26a0wZ75cQ— Cathy Holladay (@CathyHolladay1) February 12, 2018
Others, however, applauded the skater for standing up against the Trump administration.
Adam Rippon has amazing talent and work ethic–two things the bigots in the White House claim to espouse but demonstrate none of themselves. His performance was stunning and the best of what we really aspire to represent as Americans.
— Elizabeth Spiers (@espiers) February 12, 2018
Yes! Adam makes a good point and I am happy to hear he won't be following Pence and that he won't attend post-Olympic anything at the White House. I hope more athletes follow suite. #AdamRippon https://t.co/bjv2AaCpqP
— G (@Jesssica_Rabbit) January 19, 2018
Neither Rippon, Pence, nor Trump has responded to the backlash, but the figure skater did tell Good Morning America he will not meet with the VP. “I personally don’t have anything to say to Mike Pence. I’m very lucky because legislation that he’s pushed hasn’t affected my life at all. I spoke out because there are people whose lives have been affected by changes he’s tried to make. I spoke out for them because right now I have a voice. … That’s a conversation for them.”
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