U.S. Women’s National Team and Seattle Reign FC star Megan Rapinoe says she won’t visit the White House if the United States wins the 2019 women’s World Cup.
Rapinoe made the comment in a video posted from Eight by Eight magazine.
“I’m not going to the f------ White House. No, I’m not going to the White House. We’re not going to be invited….,” Rapinoe says, in part, in an interview.
According to The Associated Press, the interview was conducted in January but was just shared online Tuesday.
Trump responded to Rapinoe's comments in a series of Tweets on Wednesday.
“I am a big fan of the American Team, and Women’s Soccer, but 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. Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team,” Trump said.
Rapinoe has frequently spoken out about politics and has criticized the Trump administration and its policies in the past.
In an interview with Yahoo! Sports in May, Rapinoe said she is "a walking protest when it comes to 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. "Because I'm as talented as I am, I get to be here. ... 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."
She began kneeling during the anthem in 2016 to show solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who did it before NFL games to protest social and racial injustice. But the United States Soccer Federation then adopted a policy that requires players to stand.
Now she stands, but she has been criticized by some for not singing and putting her hand over her heart like other players.
The U.S. beat Spain 2-1 in the Round of 16 on a Rapinoe penalty kick and is scheduled to play France in a quarterfinal matchup on Friday at noon.
Rapinoe has scored three goals in the World Cup so far.
Rapinoe played collegiately for the University of Portland and has played for Reign FC since 2013.
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