Megan Rapinoe & Other Athletes Who Said They Won’t Go to White House

“I’m not going to the fucking White House,” U.S. women’s soccer co-captain Megan Rapinoe told a reporter from Eight by Eight magazine in an interview clip released this week. “No. I’m not going to the White House,” she said, if the team ends up winning the World Cup.

Remember when it used to be the highest honor possible bestowed upon an athlete to be invited to the White House by the President of the United States after a championship win? That seems like such a distant memory. 

SEE ALSO: FIFA Cracks Down on ‘Hot Female Fan’ Shots During World Cup

Long before there was a commander-in-chief who locks children up in cages, has22 allegations of sexual misconduct, denies climate change, and calls white supremacistvery fine people, athletes were thrilled to come to the White House as a topping on their celebration cake for a championship win.

Yes, it’s a toxic new era—in which athletes don’t want to plaster on an uncomfortable smile for an awkward presidential photo-op.

Rapinoe has been outspoken about social justice issues and is one of 28 players suingthe United States Soccer Federation for equal pay for the women’s team.

Just this week, President Donald Trump told The Hillthat he didn’t think it was appropriate that Rapinoe protested during the national anthem. And, in probably one of Trump’s biggest lies to date, he also stated: “I love watching women’s soccer.”

Yesterday morning, Trump acknowledged Rapinoe’s “I’m not going to the fucking White House” comment by firing off a rambling tweet about how he’s lowered black unemployment and in true dictator fashion mentioned that Rapinoe should not disrespect our country. 

Yes, Trump took time out of his presidential day to pick fights with women soccer players, while we’re in the midst of a humanitarian crisis at the U.S. border.

And it’s not that Rapinoe has an aversion to visiting the White House; she joined her teammates,after winning the 2015 World Cup, where they were warmly greeted by former President Barack Obama who didn’t bitterly disparage them for their global victory, but instead said, “This team taught all of America’s children that ‘playing like a girl’ means you’re a badass.” 

And no one on the 2015 winning World Cup team looked embarrassed to be there.

Teammate Ali Krieger also stood by Rapinoe’s aversion for Trump and a White House invitation. 

Not to mention, back in May, teammateAlex Morgan also stated she would decline an invitation to White House for a meet-and-greet with Trump after the World Cup. “I don’t stand for a lot of things the current office stands for,” she said, adding that she opposes the administration’s policies about separating families at the U.S.-Mexico border.

But it’s strange how Trump didn’t go after Morgan or Krieger. 

And, isn’t standing up against tyrannical powers that oppose the Constitution and set out to suppress the weak and downtrodden as patriotic as one can get? Also, winning the World Cup in the name of the United States is one hell of a patriotic thing…

By no means would Rapinoe, and the women’s World Cup team, be the first championship athletes to skip out on an invitation to the White house. 

Since Trump has been in office, 20 teams in major sports have won championships. Half of the 20 teams were either not invited or declined an invitation from the White House. Those who have shown up have had notable players absent from the event, or players who simply appeared embarrassed to be there. And the whole affair always looks really strained and uncomfortable. 

In 2017, the Golden State Warriors decidednot to go to the White House when they were invited after winning the NBA title.

“The White House is a great honor, but there are other circumstances that we felt not comfortable going,” said all-star guard Klay Thompson, referring to Trump berating African American athletes who protested during the National Anthem.

Trump, in turn, attempted to show he had the upper hand by taking to Twitter and revoking the Golden State Warriors’ invitation.

That pretty much says it all on how tainted the “great honor” has become.

So, instead of celebrating their NBA championship with Donald Trump, the Golden State Warriors opted to spend their time at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, visiting the facility with local D.C. students.

The Philadelphia Eaglesalso had their White House visit canceled by Trump. After winning the 2018 Super Bowl, several Eagles playerssaid they would not attend the visit.

Trump tweeted about cancelling the event: “Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!”

In turn, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenneystated that Trump’s decision “proves that our president is not a true patriot. Disinviting them from the White House only proves that our president is not a true patriot, but a fragile egomaniac obsessed with crowd size and afraid of the embarrassment of throwing a party to which no one wants to attend.” 

Also to be noted:

In 2016, when the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl, half of the players did not attend the ceremony, and at least five cited objections to Trump as their reason.  

When the 2017 Houston Astros World Series champs came to the White House, Carlos Correa and Carlos Beltrán, both Puerto Rican players, skipped the trip. Perhaps they weren’t thrilled to smile alongside the man who ridiculed the mayor of San Juan and whose only gesture of compassion after Hurricane Maria was throwing paper towels at the citizens. 

The Washington Capitals paid a visit to the White House in 2018, when they won the NHL championship. Several players, including star goalie Braden Holtby, skipped the trip. Holtby reasoned that he wished “to stay true to my values.”

Athletes turning down invitations to the White House is a direct reflection on the history of failed policies, horrific blunders and despicable acts of the Trump presidency.

It’s now a “great honor” to be a champion and say, “I’m not going to the fucking White House”—and then celebrate without having to tensely smile alongside Trump. 

Source: Observer.com

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Megan Rapinoe • White House • White House • United States women's national soccer team • Megan Rapinoe • White House • White House • President of the United States • Sexual misconduct • Climate change • White House • Yes (band) • Photo op • Social justice • United States Soccer Federation • United States women's national soccer team • This Week (ABC TV series) • Donald Trump • Megan Rapinoe • The Star-Spangled Banner • College soccer • White House • Twitter • Dictator • Time Out (magazine) • Association football • Megan Rapinoe • White House • 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup • Barack Obama • FIFA Women's World Cup • Ali Krieger • Megan Rapinoe • White House • White House • Mexico–United States border • Donald Trump • Constitution • Patriotism • United States men's national soccer team • FIFA Women's World Cup • Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada • White House • Golden State Warriors • White House • National Basketball Association • White House • NBA All-Star Game • Klay Thompson • African Americans • The Star-Spangled Banner • Twitter • Golden State Warriors • NBA Finals • Donald Trump • Golden State Warriors • Time (magazine) • National Museum of African American History and Culture • Washington, D.C. • Philadelphia • White House • Donald Trump • Super Bowl LII • Philadelphia Eagles • Donald Trump • The Star-Spangled Banner • Donald Trump • Patriot (American Revolution) • White House • Patriotism • Egomania • Fear • New England Patriots • Super Bowl • Donald Trump • Houston Astros • World Series • White House • Carlos Correa • Carlos Beltrán • Puerto Ricans • Mayor of New York City • San Juan, Puerto Rico • Hurricane Maria (2005) • Washington Capitals • White House • National Hockey League • Braden Holtby • White House • White House •