Coco Gauff Speaks Out on U.S. Turmoil: "I Care a Lot About Our Country"
Coco Gauff has never been one to shy away from speaking her mind. Whether she’s chasing down forehands on the baseline or facing a room full of reporters, the 21-year-old tennis star brings the same poise and conviction. And as unrest continues back in the United States, Gauff is once again using her platform to speak up - not just as a world-class athlete, but as a young woman deeply connected to the issues unfolding at home.
“It is tough to wake up and see something because I do care a lot about our country,” Gauff said during a media session in Dubai, where she’s set to compete this week. “I think people think I don't for some reason, but I do. I'm very proud to be American.”
Gauff’s comments come in the wake of nationwide protests sparked by the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed in Minneapolis last month by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The incident has ignited a firestorm of criticism directed at President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, with athletes across sports and disciplines adding their voices to the growing chorus of dissent.
“I don't think people should be dying in the streets just for existing,” Gauff said, her words cutting through the noise with the kind of clarity that’s become her hallmark. “You don't have to represent the entire values of what's going on in the leadership. I think there's a lot of people around that believe in the things I believe in - believe in diversity and equality.”
It’s not the first time Gauff has spoken out. During the Australian Open earlier this year, she called for “more peace and kindness” in America - a message that resonated far beyond the tennis world.
She’s not alone. Fellow American tennis star Madison Keys has also voiced her support for immigrants and the diversity they bring to the U.S., expressing hope that the country can find unity amid the division. “Diversity is what makes us a very strong country,” echoed Bea Kim, a sentiment that’s been echoed by athletes across the Olympic landscape.
Gus Kenworthy, a British skier who grew up in the U.S., revealed he’s received death threats after posting a message critical of ICE on social media. Freestyle skier Hunter Hess, currently competing at the Winter Olympics, made it clear that wearing the American flag doesn’t mean endorsing everything happening back home. President Trump, never one to back down from a public spat, responded by calling Hess a “real loser.”
Snowboarder Maddie Mastro added her voice to the mix, saying she’s “saddened with what’s happening at home,” and that ignoring it is no longer an option. Olympic silver medalist Chloe Kim echoed that sentiment, saying athletes should be “allowed to voice our opinions on what’s going on,” and emphasizing the need to lead with “love and compassion.”
For Gauff, the courage to speak her truth runs deep. Her maternal grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, helped desegregate public schools in Florida in the 1960s, becoming the first Black student to attend public school in Delray Beach. That legacy of activism and resilience clearly lives on.
So when Gauff steps up to a microphone, she does so with purpose. She knows the weight of her words - and she doesn’t flinch. Whether on the court or off it, she’s showing the world what leadership looks like at 21: fearless, thoughtful, and grounded in a belief that sports can - and should - be a platform for change.