American bobsledder defends daughters' moment with Ivanka Trump at Olympics

Staff writer

Mon, Feb 26, 2018, 3:38 AM·3 min read

Team USA bobsledder Nate Weber has been soaking in his last few days in PyeongChang, South Korea, with his family.

That’s not unusual, and generally doesn’t garner public attention. Most athletes from all over the world have been simply trying to enjoy the final few moments of the 2018 Olympics after finishing their respective events.

Yet photos of Weber — who is an active-duty U.S. Army Green Beret — with his family spending time with Ivanka Trump has drawn some negative attention on social media, and Weber wasn’t having it.

Trump, who is leading the U.S. delegation at the Closing Ceremony, and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders went to watch Weber compete in the men’s bobsled finals, and watched the event with his family.

Green Beret @NateWeberActual holds up his two daughters after competing in Men’s bobsled finals. Thank you for your service Nate! pic.twitter.com/66Smr7StKL
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) February 25, 2018

Weber responded to Sanders’ post on Twitter almost instantly, thanking her and Trump for inviting his family to join them, which he said was an “amazing experience for them.”

Regardless of your politics you have to admit that it's pretty cool when @IvankaTrump invites your kids to watch the #Olympics with her. It was an amazing experience for them. #teamusa https://t.co/4zKzMZh8JQ
— Nate Weber (@NateWeberActual) February 25, 2018

Many on Twitter, though, weren’t happy that Weber let his family spend time with the President’s daughter.

No. I really don't have to admit that
If I had kids I wouldn't let them within 100 feet of her.
— Jen Fitzgerald (@Jenfitzlaw) February 25, 2018

What is it about Ivanka that makes association with her to be pretty cool? She is a part of treason committed against the US, and owns sweat shops on the side. Valiant memory?
— JR Rothenberg (@JR_Rothenberg) February 25, 2018

Nope, won't admit that at all. Score one for Ivanka and the fun publicity photos she and her buddy @presssec got though. #NotMyPresident and #NotNormal
— Michael James Reed (@mikejimreed) February 25, 2018

Weber responded to the “haters” on Sunday, restating how great of a time his family had with Trump and saying that Trump and his daughters “were like best friends” when they were together.

He even responded to some people specifically, too.

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

Say what you will. The parts of this day that will be special to me and my girls aren't public and never will be. You can't fake this stuff.
— Nate Weber (@NateWeberActual) February 25, 2018

Here's the thing about this. My girls don't read Twitter. All they have is a wonderful memory of today.
— Nate Weber (@NateWeberActual) February 25, 2018

Weber made it clear on Twitter that this move wasn’t at all a political stance. All he wanted, he said, was to simply make his Olympic experience even better for him and his family.

It looks like he did just that.

I'm glad someone saw the point of this. It didn't matter if it was an Obama, a Bush, a Reagan, a Clinton, or a Trump. It was just someone in a position to do so making the #Olympics that much more special for my kids. I appreciate that. Coming together is the Olympic spirit.
— Nate Weber (@NateWeberActual) February 25, 2018