If the U.S. Women’s Soccer team wins the World Cup and gets invited to the White House, at least one player will be skipping that part of the victory lap.
“I’m not going to the f—–g White House,” co-captain Megan Rapinoe told Eight by Eight Magazine during an interview on Tuesday, the day after the team defeated Spain 2-1 to advance to the quarterfinals. The U.S. will play host country France on Friday.
“No, I’m not going to the White House,” Rapinoe, 33, continued, adding, “We’re not going to be invited… I doubt it.”
Her remarks caused President Trump to respond in a flurry of tweets on Wednesday, in which he tagged the wrong Twitter account, initially directing his remarks at a Megan Rapino at @meganrapino versus the soccer star Rapinoe at @mPinoe. The original tweet was deleted and reposted to be directed at the correct person.
“Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job! We haven’t yet…invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the TEAM, win or lose,” he wrote. “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!” He also began listing what he considered to be social justice accomplishments under his administration.
Rapinoe’s comments came the day after Trump criticized her for protesting during the national anthem at the tournament, where Rapinoe has opted not to sing along or put her hand over her heart while “The Star-Spangled Planner” has played during pregame ceremonies, which she says is to protest social injustice in the U.S.
Rapinoe also taken a knee during the anthem in matches running up to the World Cup, and has called herself a “walking protest” since being inspired by Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the anthem before NFL games in 2016. She was also fired up by the way “things got kind of nasty” during the 2016 presidential election.
But when The Hill asked Trump whether Rapinoe’s national anthem demonstration was appropriate, he responded, “No. I don’t think so.” He added that, “I love watching women’s soccer,” however, and said the team is “really talented.”
‘I’m not going to the f—ing White House.’
Rapinoe last visited the White House during the Obama administration in October 2015, after Team USA won the Women’s World Cup that year.
“It’s kind of a good ‘F you’ to any sort of inequality or bad sentiments that the [Trump] administration might have towards people who don’t look exactly like him,” she said. “Which, God help us if we all looked like him. Scary. Really scary. Ahh, disturbing.”
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