Levon Satamian | June 28th, 2019
The USWNT defeated Spain 2-1, advancing to the quarterfinals against France.
On Tuesday, a reporter asked Megan Rapinoe, if she was excited about going to the White House, she immediately said, “I’m not going to the f*cking White House,” adding that she hardly expects to even be invited.
Q: “Are you excited about going to the White House?”
Megan Rapinoe: “I’m not going to the fucking White House.”pic.twitter.com/OosAQMjYsh
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) June 25, 2019
Rapinoe began to kneel during the anthem, to join the protests led by Colin Kaepernick of police brutality against people of color and racial inequality. In May, Rapinoe said, “I’ll probably never sing the national anthem again,” and added that she is “a walking protest” of Trump, labeling him as a “sexist, misogynistic, small-minded, racist and not a good person.” Off Rapinoe saying she is not going to the White House, Trump tweeted:
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
A couple of hours after Trump invited the USWNT to the White House, Megan Rapinoe’s teammate, Ali Krieger sounded off on the invite to the White House, with a tweet of her own:
In regards to the “President’s” tweet today, I know women who you cannot control or grope anger you, but I stand by @mPinoe & will sit this one out as well. I don’t support this administration nor their fight against LGBTQ+ citizens, immigrants & our most vulnerable.
— Ali Krieger (@alikrieger) June 26, 2019
USWNT star Alex Morgan added, she will decline the invitation to the White House if the team receives one following the World Cup. She doesn’t “stand for a lot of things the current office stands for.” However, Alex Morgan said she would refuse a White House invite, about a month ago. She said, “We don’t have to be put in this little box, there’s the narrative that’s been said hundreds of times about any sort of athlete who’s spoken out politically. ‘Stick to sports.’ We’re much better than that, OK?” Trump did not respond via Twitter or say anything about Alex Morgan refusing a White House invite. Now that Megan Rapinoe, an openly gay player refused to go to the White House if invited, he felt the need to respond.
Keep in mind, the USWNT went to the White House in 2015, after winning the World Cup four years ago.
"This team taught all of America's children that playing like a girl means being a badass" – President @BarackObama. pic.twitter.com/O3eYhNGTGq
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) October 27, 2015
On Thursday, Rapinoe said, “I stand by the comments that I made about not wanting to go to the White House, with exception of the expletive, my mom would be very upset about that. But I think obviously answering with a lot of passion, considering how much time and effort and pride we take in the platform that we have, and using it for good, and for leaving the game in a better place and hopefully the world in a better place — I don’t think that I would want to go and I would encourage my teammates to think hard about lending that platform or having that co-opted by an administration that doesn’t feel the same way and fight for the same things we fight for.” USWNT Coach Jill Ellis said, “We all support Megan; she knows that. We know we have each other’s back in there.”
Afterward, the conversation shifted to the quarterfinal match against France on Friday, The USWNT will face having a tough matchup against the French in France. It could be another low scoring match if the French play as physical as Spain. This essentially is the World Cup Final, as the United States and France have been the best teams in the World Cup. If the USWNT win this match, they will win the 2019 World Cup.
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