Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon said “now is the right time” to meet with Vice President Mike Pence, but he doesn’t believe Pence is being sincere when he says he supports him.
“Now is the right time. The Olympics are over,” Rippon told CNN on Wednesday.
Rippon explained that he didn’t have anything he personally wanted to say to Pence, but said he wants to use his Olympic platform to stand up for other members of the gay and transgender communities.
“The conversation isn’t for me. It’s for people whose lives have been changed by legislation that he’s pushed,” Rippon said.
Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon says he is now willing to meet with Vice President Mike Pence: “Now is the right time… He tweeted at me and he said I want you to know that I’m for you and I’m for all the Olympians, which I think that’s great, but I don’t believe it.” pic.twitter.com/CcEGLyZMjO— CNN (@CNN) March 7, 2018
When staffers for Pence reached out to Rippon to set up a meeting with the athlete last month, he declined the offer. Rippon said he didn’t want his Olympic experience to be about Pence, and that he would not attend a White House celebration for the Olympic athletes.
Pence tweeted at Rippon before the opening ceremonies, “We are FOR YOU. Don’t let fake news distract you. I am proud of you and ALL OF OUR GREAT athletes.”
Rippon questioned Wednesday whether Pence actually supports him.
“I don’t believe it because when I go home, are you still for me? Are you still for other LGBTQ Americans? Are you still for that trans man or woman that wants to join the military? Are you still for that lesbian couple that wants to get married? That’s where I feel like the tweet is almost disingenuous,” Rippon argued.
