LAST UPDATE | 26 Jun 2019
DONALD TRUMP HAS said that United States co-captain Megan Rapinoe should “win before she talks” after she said “I’m not going to the fucking White House” if her nation win the Women’s World Cup.
Having become the first white athlete to follow Colin Kaepernick’s protest against police brutality and racial inequality by kneeling during the American national anthem in 2016, Rapinoe has continued to protest by remaining silent during the Star-Spangled Banner at the World Cup.
When asked if a visit to the White House would be on the cards should USA retain their title, star Rapinoe told Eight by Eight: “I’m not going to the fucking White House. We’re not going to be invited.”
Trump, having already said that her protest wasn’t appropriate, has now responded to her White House comments on Twitter.
In a three-tweet thread (in which the U.S. president first tagged the wrong account, forcing him to delete and re-post the tweets with the correct Rapinoe account included) Trump said that Rapinoe should “WIN first before she TALKS!” and, having pointed out that he hadn’t yet invited Rapinoe or the United States team to the White House, he extended an invite “win or lose.”
He further addressed Rapinoe’s anthem protest, saying she should “never disrespect our Country, the White House or our Flag.” He also said he is a “big fan of the American Team and women’s soccer”, claimed that “leagues and teams love coming to the White House” and defended his record by claiming that the “poverty index is also best number EVER.”
....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
Rapinoe’s interview also touched on the expectations that drive the team to chase another world title.
USA had their toughest match of the World Cup on Monday when Spain scored the first goal of the tournament against the reigning champions.
Rapinoe scored USA’s only goals in that match as the international powerhouse prevailed 2-1.
“We have a great burden of expectation, but I think that also brings out the best in you and we just except to win every single game,” she said. “So if we’re down two-nil with 10 minutes left, we expect to win that game. We’ve been in those situations before and it’s just sort of ingrained in us.”
They face hosts France in the quarter-final on Friday night.
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