Rapinoe says, “I’m not going to the f**king White House”.
Co-captain of the U.S. women’s national soccer team, Megan Rapinoe, doesn’t plan to visit President Donald Trump at the White House if the team wins the Women’s World Cup.
“I’m not going to the f**king White House,” Rapinoe told Eight by Eight magazine in newly released interview clips on Tuesday. Adding “We’re not gonna be invited. I doubt it”.
“I’m not going to the fucking White House.” – @mPinoe pic.twitter.com/sz1ADG2WdT
— Eight by Eight (@8by8mag) June 25, 2019
Rapinoe elaborated in the print version of the interview published earlier this month.
“[Trump] tries to avoid inviting a team that might decline,” she said. “Or, like he did when the NBA’s Golden State Warriors turned him down (in 2017), he’ll claim they hadn’t been invited in the first place.”
Trump canceled a visit by the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles to honor their February 2018 Super Bowl win after most of the team’s players vowed to skip it.
Even college teams have opted out of a visit to the White House. This year’s winner of the NCAA men’s basketball championship—The University of Virginia—skipped a visit due to logistical complications.
Rapinoe’s comments came a day after Trump told The Hill news outlet that he didn’t think it was appropriate for [her] to protest during the national anthem at games—an issue Trump has had commented on since former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee back in August of 2016 during the anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality.
In September of that year, Rapinoe became the first prominent white or female athlete to kneel during the anthem in solidarity with Kap. In a reactionary attempt, the U.S. Soccer Federation amended its regulations to require all players to “stand respectfully” when the national anthem is played at games.
Trump extended his disagreement with Rapinoe’s actions via a Twitter rant, criticizing the co-captain saying, “Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job!”
But in his Twitter rant, Trump originally went at the wrong Megan Rapinoe, and, best of all, that Megan responded to his Tweet.
After being dogged for a while, Trump deleted his original Tweet and sent out a new Tweet targeting the soccer star and, randomly, mentioning Black unemployment.
“We haven’t yet invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the TEAM, win or lose,” he stated. Adding, “Megan should never disrespect out Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the Team.”
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
The 33-year-old midfielder, who is openly gay, is no longer kneeling during the anthem at World Cup matches this summer, and instead has refused to sing or put her hand over her heart during “The Star-Spangled Banner” in France.
Rapinoe has also been involved in legal challenges demanding equal pay for female soccer players. And last June, she and WNBA star Sue Bird became the first openly gay couple to appear on the cover of ESPN’s iconic body issue.
The women’s soccer team have advanced to the World Cup’s quarterfinals and will play France on Friday.
