Trump responds after U.S. soccer player Megan Rapinoe says she wouldn’t go to the White House
Rapinoe isn't the only U.S. player to publicly say she wouldn't visit Trump's White House if the team wins the World Cup.
After a video clip emerged on Tuesday in which a prominent member of the United States women’s national soccer team said she wouldn’t go to the White House, the president responded with a series of tweets in which he invited the team whether or not they win the World Cup.
In the video, U.S. midfielder and team co-captain Megan Rapinoe told Eight by Eight magazine that, “I’m not going to the f—— White House.”
“I’m not going to the fucking White House.” – @mPinoe pic.twitter.com/sz1ADG2WdT
— Eight by Eight (@8by8mag) June 25, 2019
Rapinoe isn’t the only member of the team to be against visiting President Donald Trump’s White House. Alex Morgan, the team’s starting center forward, has also publicly stated that she wouldn’t visit. In May, Morgan told Time magazine she had no intention of going if the U.S. repeats the World Cup title they won in 2015. (Update: Fullback Ali Krieger tweeted later on Wednesday saying that she would also skip a White House visit).
Trump responded in the form of a series of tweets on Wednesday morning:
Women’s soccer player, @mPinoe, just stated that she is “not going to the F…ing White House if we win.” Other than the NBA, which now refuses to call owners, owners (please explain that I just got Criminal Justice Reform passed, Black unemployment is at the lowest level…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019
….invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the TEAM, win or lose. Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team. Be proud of the Flag that you wear. The USA is doing GREAT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019
Trump’s initial response tagged the wrong Twitter handle and was deleted.
Now 33, Rapinoe has been a central part of the U.S. women’s team for almost a decade, accruing over 150 caps. She helped the U.S. get gold at the 2012 Olympics and was a starter as the team won the last World Cup in 2015.
In 2011, she celebrated a World Cup goal against Colombia by running to the corner, grabbing an on-field microphone and singing, “Born in the USA.” Yet due to a variety of issues as she told Yahoo’s Henry Bushnell, “I’ll probably never sing the national anthem again.”
Off the field, Rapinoe has never been afraid to speak up on issues of social justice. She’s been an advocate for LGBQT rights (even before officially coming out as gay in 2012) and began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 as a “nod to [Colin] Kaepernick.” The U.S. Soccer Federation later enacted a rule requiring players to stand for the anthem.
Rapinoe is clearly not a fan of the president, saying in a 2019 interview that she’s “a walking protest when it comes to the Trump administration.”
The U.S. women’s team is also currently attempting to gain equal pay from the U.S. Soccer Federation, having launched a lawsuit in March for gender discrimination. Earlier this week, the two sides tentatively agreed to pursue mediation in an attempt to reach a settlement.
In 2015, the U.S. team visited the White House of then President Barack Obama after defeating Japan 5-2 in the World Cup final to claim a first win in the competition since 1999.
The U.S. team is currently in the quarterfinals of the World Cup and will face France on Friday at 3 p.m. EST. The Americans have won the competition three times: 1991, 1999, and 2015.
