Trump blasts Rapinoe: ‘Megan should win first before she talks’
President Trump on Wednesday told U.S. women’s national soccer team star Megan Rapinoe that she “should WIN first before she TALKS” after she said she would turn down an invitation to the White House.
In a string of tweets, the president said “leagues and teams love coming to the White House” and added he is a “big fan of the American Team, and Women’s Soccer,” but cautioned that “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,” Trump tweeted.
The latest barbs against Rapinoe came after video emerged of her saying she is “not going to the f—— White House” if the U.S. team wins the World Cup.
Rapinoe, the team’s co-captain, is an outspoken critic of Trump and has also refused to place her hand over her heart during the national anthem in protest of his administration’s policies and police brutality, for which Trump again criticized her.
“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 said.
Trump first went after Rapinoe on Monday during an exclusive interview with The Hill, saying he does not think it’s appropriate for her to protest the anthem.
“No. I don’t think so,” Trump said when asked about Rapinoe’s actions.
Rapinoe has previously knelt during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” but during this year’s World Cup, she has stood while refraining from singing. Rapinoe, who is gay, has referred to herself as a “walking protest” of the Trump administration because of “everything I stand for.”
“I feel like it’s kind of defiance in and of itself to just be who I am and wear the jersey, and represent it,” she said in comments published last month by Yahoo News. “Because I’m as talented as I am, I get to be here, you don’t get to tell me if I can be here or not. So 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.”
Updated at 11:08 a.m.