Trump's Change of Heart? ... Opposing the Boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics

Former President Trump, Vanguard of 'China Bashing'... Boycott Unfair to Athletes
Former President Trump: "Go Compete and Win"

[Asia Economy International Desk Reporter] Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed opposition to boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics. Given that Trump led the 'tough stance on China' during his presidency, his opposition to the boycott is considered surprising even within the United States.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In a recent interview with the conservative U.S. media outlet Real Clear Investigations, Trump said that boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics would be unfair to the athletes and that if such a boycott occurred, the world would see it as stubbornness, according to the political news outlet The Hill on the 19th (local time). Trump stated, "There are two paths, but I will not take that one," adding, "Go and compete and win."

The Hill noted that such remarks are unexpected considering his relationship with China during his presidency. Trump engaged in a trade war with China while in office and persistently blamed China for COVID-19, escalating tensions between the U.S. and China.

In the U.S., some political circles and human rights organizations have called for a boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics scheduled for February next year. A coalition of U.S. human rights groups has demanded a boycott not only by the U.S. but globally, citing China's human rights abuses including massacres in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proposed a 'diplomatic boycott' last month, suggesting that no official delegation be sent to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. Republican Senators Mitt Romney and Democrat Tim Kaine introduced a bill to prohibit funding for sending an official U.S. delegation, and Republican Senator Rick Scott called for a broadcast boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics due to human rights violations.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, both potential Republican presidential candidates, also supported the call to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics in March.

However, the U.S. Olympic Committee has countered that an Olympic boycott is not a solution to geopolitical issues and argued that Congress should not force athletes to withdraw from the Olympics.