Trump rejects US boycott of Olympics in China

Former US President Donald Trump has rejected the idea that the United States should boycott the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, days after China warned that Washington and its allies will “pay the price” for their diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump said he wouldn’t encourage America to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing because of how it makes the country look, according to Politico.

“I watched Jimmy Carter do it, and it was terrible,” said Trump, referring to the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. “Hurts the athletes. There are much more powerful things we can do that — much, much more powerful things. That's not a powerful thing. It almost makes us look like, I don't know, sore losers.”

In 1980, the Carter administration boycotted Summer Olympics in Moscow in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In retaliation, the Soviet Union and its closest allies boycotted the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Washington announced earlier this month that it would not send a diplomatic delegation to Beijing for the games in February over what it claimed as widespread rights abuses by China against the Muslim Uyghur minority in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

Australia, Britain and Canada followed suit and announced similar decisions even though their athletes will attend the games. 

In regards to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said in the interview that he had a great relationship with the Chinese leader while in office.

“I really believe he liked me, I like him,” said Trump. “He is a killer but I had a great relationship with him,” he added without elaborating.

Trump had previously praised Xi. In January of 2020, Trump celebrated a recent trade deal with China that “will bring both the USA & China closer together in so many other ways.” His tweet continued: “Terrific working with President Xi, a man who truly loves his country. Much more to come!”

China warns US, allies will ‘pay price’ for Olympics boycott; France rebuffs US campaign

China says the United States and its allies will “pay the price” for their diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Last week, the Chinese foreign ministry warned that the United States and its allies will “pay the price” for their diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

"The US, Australia, Britain and Canada's use of the Olympic platform for political manipulation is unpopular and self-isolating, and they will inevitably pay the price for their wrongdoing," ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters on December 9.

Meanwhile, the French government spurned the politically-motivated move by the West, with Education and Sports Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer saying his country will not join the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics.

"We need to be careful about the link between sports and politics," Blanquer said during an interview with RMC radio and BFM television. "Sports is a world apart that needs to be protected from political interference. If not, things can get out of control and it could end up killing all of the competitions.”

China has already denounced the US-led attempts to politicize the Winter Olympics in Beijing, saying a diplomatic boycott would be “a serious stain on the spirit of the Olympic Charter” as well as “a naked political provocation, and a serious offense to the 1.4 billion Chinese people.”

Beijing has also called on the administration of US President Joe Biden to drop the plan as it would further damage bilateral ties. 

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