While pro-democracy hero Jimmy Lai sits in a Chinese Communist prison cell for the "crime" of defending freedom, Olympic skier Eileen Gu continues to cash CCP checks and live the high life as Beijing's golden girl. This stark contrast perfectly illustrates everything wrong with how American celebrities and athletes cozy up to authoritarian regimes for profit.
Lai, the 76-year-old founder of Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper, faces life imprisonment under China's draconian national security law. His real crime? Standing up for Hong Kong's freedom and democracy against Xi Jinping's iron fist. This courageous publisher spent decades fighting for the same American values our Founding Fathers died to protect.
Meanwhile, Eileen Gu - who was born and raised in San Francisco - betrayed her own country to compete for China in the 2022 Olympics, all while raking in millions from Chinese sponsors. She conveniently switched nationalities when it became profitable, abandoning the nation that gave her every opportunity.
The Ultimate Sellout
Gu's shameless money grab gets even more disgusting when you consider the timing. While Lai was being tortured in Chinese custody, Gu was posing for glamour shots and collecting endorsement deals from the same regime crushing Hong Kong's spirit.
"As Americans, we should celebrate heroes like Jimmy Lai and demand accountability from public figures such as Eileen Gu," The Federalist correctly points out. But where's that accountability? Where's the mainstream media calling out this Olympic sellout?
"Jimmy Lai chose principle over profit. Eileen Gu chose the opposite."
President Trump has been crystal clear about America's stance toward China - we don't bow to Beijing bullies. It's time for Americans to stop celebrating athletes who abandon our values for Chinese cash while real freedom fighters like Jimmy Lai suffer in communist dungeons.
Every dollar Gu earns from Chinese sponsors is blood money earned on the backs of Hong Kong's crushed democracy movement. Patriots should remember that when they see her face plastered on advertisements.