U.S. Soccer star Megan Rapinoe has been crystal clear about Team USA’s intentions heading into the FIFA Women’s World Cup — it’s championship or bust for the No. 1-ranked nation.
When asked about a potential White House visit should the United States win it all in France, Rapinoe was just as clear in her response:
“I’m not going to the [expletive] White House,” she told soccer publication Eight by Eight.
“We’re not going to be invited,” she added. “I doubt it.”
That’s about as hard of a no as you can get — and not a surprising one, either. The national club co-captain has been one of Team USA’s best players on the pitch during the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and one of their strongest voices off it.
Over the past few years, Rapinoe has used her platform as one of the world’s top female soccer players to speak out on a number of social and political causes and human rights issues, even referring to herself as “a walking protest”. Most recently, she has been at the forefront of the women’s national team’s fight against gender discrimination as the team takes legal action against the United States Soccer Federation for equal pay and treatment between the men’s and women’s programs.
As for the White House visit, this isn’t the first time Rapinoe has been asked about it. Last month, she told Sports Illustrated‘s Jenny Vrentas that she would “absolutely not” visit the White House this year if invited.
“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,” Rapinoe told Vrentas. “I have no interest in extending our platform to him.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, as he is known to do, responded to Rapinoe’s comments made Tuesday, tweeting the following:
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