US Soccer Star Megan Rapinoe Says 'I'm Not Going To The F—ing White House' If The Team Is Invited
As the U.S. women’s soccer team prepares for the World Cup quarterfinals, team co-captain Megan Rapinoe has already turned down the idea of visiting the White House if her team wins.
During an interview with Eight by Eight Magazine, Rapinoe barely let the interviewer, David Hirshey, ask the question before she made her position on the current administration clear.
“So are you looking forward to visiting the White—” Hirshey began before Rapinoe responded, “I’m not going to the f—–g White House.”
“No, I’m not going to the White House. We’re not going to be invited… I doubt it,” she added.
When asked why she thought her team would not receive an invitation to the White House even if they became world champions, Rapinoe cited the past actions of Donald Trump.
“No f—in’ way will we be invited to the White House,” she said. “[Trump] tries to avoid inviting a team that might decline. Or, like he did when the Warriors turned him down, he’ll claim they hadn’t been invited in the first place.”
Rapinoe took her stance just one day after President Trump criticized the soccer star for her history protesting during the national anthem.
When a reporter from The Hill asked Donald Trump if he thinks that it is appropriate for Rapinoe to protest at the games, he responded, “No. I don’t think so.”
Before her team entered the World Cup games in France, Rapinoe became the first white professional athlete to show solidarity with Colin Kaepernick by kneeling during the pre-game playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 2016.
“I haven’t experienced over-policing, racial profiling, police brutality or the sight of a family member’s body lying dead in the street. But I cannot stand idly by while there are people in this country who have had to deal with that kind of heartache,” Rapinoe wrote in the Player’s Tribune.
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During this summer’s World Cup games, Rapinoe has again protested U.S. injustice by refusing to sing along to the anthem before each match.
“I’ll probably never put my hand over my heart,” she told reporters before the games began in May. “I’ll probably never sing the national anthem again.”
The star forward, who is openly gay and currently suing the U.S. Soccer Federation for gender discrimination, has also said: “I feel like I'm a walking protest,” according to Yahoo Sports.
In response to Rapinoe’s comments, Trump fired off a Twitter storm against the soccer star, saying “Megan should WIN first before she TALKS!”
"I am a big fan of the American Team, and Women's Soccer, but Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job!" Trump tweeted.
"We haven't yet invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the TEAM, win or lose," Trump added. "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!"
During President Obama’s final year in office, Rapinoe visited the White House with the U.S. women’s soccer team after winning the World Cup in 2015.
After defeating Spain 2-1 on Monday, the U.S. women’s team advanced to the quarterfinals and will play France on Friday.
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