The United States’ women’s national team is annihilating the competition heading into the round of sixteen on Friday.
This squad is so special that it might be the greatest women’s soccer team that we’ve ever had and the teams in the 1990s were special; led by Mia Hamm who finished with a world-record 158 international goals when she retired in 2004.
But now the USWNT is making other headlines because captain Megan Rapinoe finally got what was coming to her after she protested the National Anthem by not singing.
Megan Rapinoe is one of the captains on the United States women’s national team and she is no fan of President Trump.
When asked if she would visit the White House if her team wins the gold medal she said, “I am not going to fake it. hobnob with the president, who is clearly against so many of the things that I am [for] and so many of the things that I actually am. I have no interest in extending our platform to him.”
The most aggressive thing Rapinoe said when asked if she would go was to say “I’m not going to the f—king White House.”
But Trump wasn’t having it and finally spoke up about it.
He tweeted (as per usual), “I am a big fan of the American Team, and Women’s Soccer, but Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job! 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!”
Trump took the high road on this one and he’s absolutely right that Rapinoe shouldn’t put the cart before the horse in terms of winning it all – even if it does seem like a foregone conclusion USA will win it all – there’s no guarantee and in a single elimination anything can happen.
Nevertheless, Rapinoe stuck by her comments.
The women’s captain doubled down on her divisive comments after the fact.
She 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.”
Rapinoe has a long history of kneeling during the national anthem too.
Rapinoe became the first prominent white or female athlete to kneel during the anthem in solidarity with Kaepernick. In an apparent response to her actions six months later, the U.S. Soccer Federation amended its regulation to require all players to “stand respectfully” when the national anthem is played at games.
So instead of kneeling during while the anthem has played throughout the Women’s World Cup, Rapinoe has declined to sing it and has stood with her hand at her side instead of over her heart.
But Trump still plans to invite the US women’s team to the White House; win or lose. He took the high road again.