US President Donald Trump sledged by US soccer star after he attacked her teammate

President Donald Trump attacked U.S. women’s national team co-captain Megan Rapinoe for her attitude to attending the White House. What he might not have been expecting was the response from her peer.

President Donald Trump called out U.S. women’s national team co-captain Megan Rapinoe after a months-old video was posted on social media in which she used profanity when she said she wasn’t going to the White House if the team wins the Women’s World Cup.

“Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team,” Trump tweeted Wednesday.

In regards to the “President’s” tweet today, I know women who you cannot control or grope anger you, but I stand by @mPinoe & will sit this one out as well. I don’t support this administration nor their fight against LGBTQ+ citizens, immigrants & our most vulnerable.

— Ali Krieger (@alikrieger) June 26, 2019

The president also tweeted that he will invite the U.S. team “win or lose.” Rapinoe’s comments came during an interview for a magazine in January in which she was asked if she was excited by the prospect of going to the White House. In a video of an interview excerpt posted Tuesday, she can be seen using a profanity when she says she’s not going.

“I’m not going to the f*****g White House,” Rapinoe said in January.

Megan Rapinoe was called out by Trump

“No. I’m not going to the White House. We’re not gonna be invited. I doubt it.”

The U.S. team, the defending World Cup champion, plays host France in a quarterfinal match on Friday.

Trump’s tweets came two days after an interview with The Hill in which he said it wasn’t appropriate for Rapinoe to protest during the national anthem.

Trump also claimed that teams “love coming to the White House” and attacked Rapinoe, saying she “should WIN first before she talks!”

Shortly after the President’s tweets were posted, Rapinoe’s teammate Ali Krieger hit back.

“In regards to the “President’s” tweet today, I know women who you cannot control or grope anger you, but I stand by @mPinoe & will sit this one out as well,” she wrote.

“I don’t support this administration nor their fight against LGBTQ+ citizens, immigrants & our most vulnerable.”

Ali Krieger stands in solidarity with her teammate

Rapinoe started 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 criticised for not singing and putting her hand over her heart like other players.

Rapinoe, who is gay, has frequently spoken out about politics and has criticised the Trump administration and its policies in the past.

Trump has used Twitter to criticise athletes who disagree with him, including Kaepernick and LeBron James.

Originally published as US President Donald Trump sledged by US soccer star after he attacked her teammate