Donald Trump Jr. on Tuesday rebuked U.S. figure skater Adam Rippon for saying that he does not want his experience at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games "being about Mike Pence" despite publicly criticizing the vice president.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Rippon, the first openly gay athlete selected to a U.S. Winter Olympic team, stood by his recent criticism of Pence's views on LGBTQ rights, but said he does not want his feud with the vice president to distract from his teammates.
"I have no problem about what I've said because I stand by it, but I think right now the Olympics are about Olympic competition," Rippon said, according to CNN. "It's brought a lot of attention to my other teammates and I don't want it to distract from them."
"I don't want my Olympic experience being about Mike Pence," Rippon added.
Trump chided Rippon for his comments, writing on Twitter that the Olympian stirred the controversy himself by inserting politics into a moment that was supposed to be nonpolitical.
"Really? Then Perhaps you shouldn't have spent the past few weeks talking about him. I haven't heard him mention you once???" Trump tweeted in response to an article from the Hill on Rippon's comments.
Really? Then Perhaps you shouldn’t have spent the past few weeks talking about him. I haven’t heard him mention you once??? https://t.co/8lcCsoyBsq
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 14, 2018
Rippon said last month that he does not agree with the Trump administration's values, adding that Pence "doesn't really stand for anything I believe in." The Olympian also said that Pence, who is leading the 2018 U.S. Olympic delegation, supports "gay conversion therapy." Pence's office has denied that he believes in "gay conversion therapy."
Rippon elaborated in an interview with USA Today that he believes someone with Pence's views is "sick."
"If it were before my event, I would absolutely not go out of my way to meet somebody who I felt has gone out of their way to not only show that they aren't a friend of a gay person but that they think that they're sick," Rippon added. "I wouldn't go out of my way to meet somebody like that."
The Olympian said he would prefer not to meet Pence during the traditional meet-and-greet between the official Olympic delegation and U.S. athletes before the opening ceremony.
Rippon turned down a meeting with Pence earlier this week. The athlete also said he would boycott a Team USA visit to the White House.
Following Rippon's comments, Pence went on Twitter to say that the media had distorted his views and that he was proud to support all of the Americans competing.
Headed to the Olympics to cheer on #TeamUSA. One reporter trying to distort 18 yr old nonstory to sow seeds of division. We won’t let that happen! #FAKENEWS. Our athletes are the best in the world and we are for ALL of them! #TEAMUSA
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) February 8, 2018
Pence also tweeted at Rippon directly, telling the athlete not to let "fake news distract you" and that he is proud of him and hope he brings "home the gold."
.@Adaripp I want you to know we are FOR YOU. Don’t let fake news distract you. I am proud of you and ALL OF OUR GREAT athletes and my only hope for you and all of #TeamUSA is to bring home the gold. Go get ‘em!
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) February 8, 2018
Rippon and Gus Kenworthy, a fellow gay Olympian, responded with an Instagram post that read,"Eat your heart out, Pence."
Despite his stated desire Tuesday to focus on the Olympics and not politics, Rippon said he "can't tone it down," referring to his criticism of Pence.
"I'm being me and being myself," Rippon said. "I've got so many messages from kids all over the country—I'm getting so emotional thinking about it—I think that's why it's so important."
"I think as an athlete I use this platform to my advantage. I think it's giving my skating a greater purpose," he added.