WNBA star Sue Bird has taken exception to what she has described as President Trump’s “hate-filled Twitter spree” against her girlfriend and U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) co-captain Megan Rapinoe.
“It would take the President of the United States going on a hate-filled Twitter spree trolling my girlfriend while she was putting American soccer, women’s sports, equal pay, gay pride and TRUE LOVE on her back, all at once, scoring two majestic goals to lead Team USA to a thrilling victory over France and a place in the World Cup SEMIFINALS, for me to ever even think about writing again,” Bird wrote in the Player’s Tribune.
“But I’m a woman of my word. So here I am.”
The rift between Rapinoe and Trump started last week, after the star soccer player was asked about her level of excitement about a potential White House visit after the World Cup was over.
“I’m not going to the f*ck*ng White House,” Rapinoe responded. “No. I’m not going to the White House. We’re not going to be invited… I doubt it.”
“I’m not going to the fucking White House.” – @mPinoe pic.twitter.com/sz1ADG2WdT
— Eight by Eight (@8by8mag) June 25, 2019
Trump said he would invite the team to the White House, despite Rapinoe’s crass comment.
“We haven’t yet invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the TEAM, win or lose,” he said.
Trump described her comments as disrespectful to the entire country.
“Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team,” he wrote. “Be proud of the Flag that you wear”:
Women’s soccer player, @mPinoe, just stated that she is “not going to the F…ing White House if we win.” Other than the NBA, which now refuses to call owners, owners (please explain that I just got Criminal Justice Reform passed, Black unemployment is at the lowest level…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019
….in our Country’s history, and the poverty index is also best number EVER), leagues and teams love coming to the White House. 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….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019
….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. Be proud of the Flag that you wear. The USA is doing GREAT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019
Bird also noted how her team, the Seattle Storm, declined to visit the White House after winning the WNBA championship in 2018.
The WNBA star also seemed particularly irked by the number of people who attacked Rapinoe after Trump made his comments.
“And you’ve got all these crazy blogs writing terrible things about this person you care so much about,” Bird explained. “And now they’re doing takedowns of Megan on Fox News, and who knows whatever else. It’s like an out-of-body experience, really — that’s how I’d describe it. That’s how it was for me.
“But then Megan, man….. I’ll tell you what. You just cannot shake that girl. She’s going to do her thing, at her own damn speed, to her own damn rhythm, and she’s going to apologize to exactly NO ONE for it. So when all the Trump business started to go down last week, I mean — the fact that Megan just seemed completely unfazed? It’s strange to say, but that was probably the only normal thing about it.”
Unmentioned in Bird’s post, is that President Trump was not talking negatively about Rapinoe until she angrily and profanely announced that she would not accept a White House invite that had not been earned or extended at that time. Nor does Bird address the fact that despite Trump’s characterization of Rapinoe’s protest as “disrespectful” — a position held by a huge number of Americans — he still said he was rooting for the USWNT and extended them a White House invite, win or lose.
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn
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