Bobsledder Lauren Gibbs has no regrets for her fun photo session with First Daughter Ivanka Trump at the Pyeongchang Olympics. Trump, who arrived in South Korea as part of the U.S. delegation for the Games, greeted athletes Sunday before the closing ceremony.
Some Olympians like Gus Kenworthy gave her an icy reception, asking her on Twitter what the "F" she was doing there. But silver medal-winning bobsledder Lauren Gibbs took a different course. She warmly welcomed Ivanka and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and at one point let Ivanka wear her silver medal.
It’s important to remember that we don’t have to agree on everything to get along, be civil to each other and enjoy each others company. #itsforamerica it was a pleasure to meet you both! pic.twitter.com/bEkenz3EF5
— Lauren Gibbs (@lagibbs84) February 25, 2018
When the rebukes started rolling in, Gibbs didn't apologize. She stood her ground and explained over and over again that pride in one's country should come before any petty political differences. Name calling and nastiness solve nothing.
Hate comes from both sides. That’s the point no one is innocent so we need to start learning how to communicate
— Lauren Gibbs (@lagibbs84) February 25, 2018
Not complicit, just hoping that there is a better way... idealistic... Maybe but I would rather go that route than the back and forth name calling... ???????
— Lauren Gibbs (@lagibbs84) February 25, 2018
When some especially offensive reactions arrived on her Twitter timeline, she showed off her snark.
We have a fortune teller on our hands...
— Lauren Gibbs (@lagibbs84) February 25, 2018
But, she always kept her eyes on the main message.
Your insults just prove my point... just because you don’t agree with what I said doesn’t make me wrong and just because you you disagree doesn’t mean you there is a need for name calling...
— Lauren Gibbs (@lagibbs84) February 25, 2018
Another American bobsledder, Nate Weber, was proud to share a photo he took with Ivanka. Regardless of your politics, he wrote, he was appreciative of how sweet she was with his children.
Here's another tweet for everyone that didn't like @IvankaTrump being absolutely wonderful to my children. Her and my daughters were like best friends today. It was a truly special experience for them. #thankyou pic.twitter.com/u6hlVUJonz
— Nate Weber (@NateWeberActual) February 25, 2018
Thank you, Lauren and Nate, for representing us so well on the world stage.