USA captain Megan Rapinoe has doubled down on her comments about not visiting the White House if her team wins the FIFA Women's World Cup.
The 33-year-old had responded emphatically to a question about whether she would accept a White House invite.
"I'm not going to the ******* White House," was her response to the question.
“I’m not going to the fucking White House.” - @mPinoe pic.twitter.com/sz1ADG2WdT
— Eight by Eight (@8by8mag) June 25, 2019
That elicited a Twitter retort from the President of the United States Donald Trump.
"I stand by my comments"
"Leagues and teams love coming to the White House," he wrote.
"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.
"Be proud of the Flag that you wear. The USA is doing GREAT!"
However, Rapinoe who regularly speaks out on social issues in the US, reiterated her stance and the only exception being to retract the expletive.
"Obviously a lot of news recently. I stand by the comments I made about not wanting to go to the White House, with the exception of the expletive. My mom will be very upset about that," she said.
"I don’t think that I would want to go, and I would encourage my teammates to think hard about lending that platform or having that co-opted by an administration that doesn’t feel the same way and doesn’t fight for the same things that we fight for. I'll just leave it at that."
She is also not the only USA player planning to turn down a White House visit. Rapinoe's team-mate Ali Krieger backed her on social media.
"I stand by [Rapinoe] and will sit this one out as well. I don’t support this administration nor their fight against LGBTQ+ citizens, immigrants and our most vulnerable," Krieger tweeted.
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