Pelosi fears 'for the physical safety' of US Olympic athletes who speak out against China

'Fox & Friends' hosts discuss the 'insanity' of Nancy Pelosi's request for US athletes to remain silent on the human rights abuses in China while at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doubled down Friday on her warning to U.S. Olympic athletes to not speak out against the Chinese communist government while competing in the Beijing Olympics.

"I wish the athletes well," Pelosi, D-Calif., said at a Capitol event to celebrate the imminent passage of the America COMPETES Act to counter China. "I do not encourage them to speak out against the Chinese government there because I fear for their safety if they do."

The Winter Olympics kick off Friday amid a U.S. diplomatic boycott of the games to protest Chinese human rights abuses.

PELOSI WARNS US ATHLETES NOT TO RISK 'INCURRING THE ANGER' OF 'RUTHLESS' CHINESE GOVERNMENT DURING OLYMPICS

Pelosi raised eyebrows on Thursday when she told the athletes that they are "there to compete" and are not to "risk incurring the anger of the Chinese government because they are ruthless."

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. (Craig Hudson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Pelosi expanded on her warning Friday by reiterating she wants U.S. athletes to stay safe.

"I fear for the physical safety of those who may speak out," Pelosi added.

BEIJING OLYMPICS TO RENEW SCRUTINY ON CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, INTERNATIONAL VIOLATIONS

The comments from the California congresswoman follow immense criticism of the Chinese communist regime’s human rights abuses at home, as well as its violations of international law and freedoms abroad.

China's crackdown under