Biden considers diplomatic boycott of 2022 Winter Olympics in China

President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he is "considering" a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics that are being held in China.

According to The Hill, Biden made the announcement ahead of a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

Lawmakers from both political parties have asked Biden to formally declare a boycott of the Winter Olympics in 2022 as a way to push back against China's human rights abuses, specifically against the Uyghur people. 

"There are a range of factors where we look at what our presence will be," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki when asked about the potential boycott.

Senator Mitt Romney of Utah proposed a diplomatic boycott back in March. 

"In authoritarian states like China, the Olympics has more often been a tool of propaganda than a lever of reform. It is unacceptable for China to have the honor of hosting the Olympics while the Chinese Communist Party commits genocide against the Uyghur people,” Romney told The Hill in a statement.