Different sport, same controversy … and same response.
Megan Rapinoe, co-captain of the U.S. Women’s National Team and savior of U.S. hopes in Monday’s World Cup victory over Spain, regularly protests during the playing of the national anthem. In years past, she took a knee, a move reminiscent of NFL players protesting racial injustice prior to games. More recently, she’s remained silent during the anthem, hands clasped behind her back.
That, combined with the U.S. team’s success, put her on the radar of President Trump, who helped inflame controversy over the protests during the anthem two years ago. Speaking to The Hill, Trump offered a far more measured critique of Rapinoe than he did of Kaepernick, replying “No, I don’t think so,” to the question of whether Rapinoe should protest during the anthem.
Rapinoe is an outspoken advocate for social causes — in a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, she called herself a “walking protest” — most recently, the cause of equal pay for equal work for the women’s team. Trump sidestepped that issue, saying that he has not yet taken a position on it.
“I think a lot of it also has to do with the economics,” Trump added, according to The Hill. “I mean who draws more, where is the money coming in. I know that when you have the great stars like [Cristiano] Ronaldo and some of these stars … that get paid a lot of money, but they draw hundreds of thousands of people.”
Rapinoe: Not a fan of Trump
Rapinoe has no love for Trump; in interviews, she has called him “sexist,” “misogynistic,” “small-minded,” “racist” and “not a good person.” So it’s unlikely that criticism from the White House will sway her, even if — especially if — it intensifies.
13 PHOTOSUSWNT highlights from the Women's World CupSee GalleryUSWNT highlights from the Women's World Cup
United States’ Kelley O Hara leaps over Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani during the Women’s World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and the United States at Stade Océane, in Le Havre, France, Thursday, June 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 16: Julie Ertz of USA #8 celebrates her goal with Mallory Pugh, Lindsey Horan, Morgan Brian during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France group F match between USA and Chile at Parc des Princes stadium on June 16, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
LE HAVRE, FRANCE – JUNE 20: Lindsey Horan of the USA scores her team’s first goal the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France group F match between Sweden and USA at Stade Oceane on June 20, 2019 in Le Havre, France. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
United States’ Carli Lloyd, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring their side’s third goal during the Women’s World Cup Group F soccer match between United States and Chile at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, Sunday, June 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Chile goalkeeper Claudia Endler lunges for the ball to make a safe during the Women’s World Cup Group F soccer match between United States and Chile at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, Sunday, June 16, 2019. US won 3-0. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
United States’ Carli Lloyd celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Women’s World Cup Group F soccer match between the United States and Chile at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Sunday, June 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
United States’ Carli Lloyd, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Women’s World Cup Group F soccer match between United States and Chile at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, Sunday, June 16, 2019. Lloyd scored twice in US’ 3-0 victory. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
United States’ Megan Rapinoe, right, congratulates teammate Alex Morgan after scoring her fifth goal during the Women’s World Cup Group F soccer match between the United States and Thailand at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, Tuesday, June 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
United States’ Alex Morgan, centre, scores her team’s fifth goal during the Women’s World Cup Group F soccer match between the United States and Thailand at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, Tuesday, June 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
REIMS, FRANCE – JUNE 11: Mallory Pugh of USA shots to goal during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France group F match between USA and Thailand at Stade Auguste Delaune on June 11, 2019 in Reims, France. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
REIMS, FRANCE – JUNE 11: Megan Rapinoe of United States of America celebrates with the supporters after the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France group F match between USA and Thailand at Stade Auguste Delaune on June 11, 2019 in Reims, France. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
REIMS, FRANCE – JUNE 11: Mallory Pugh of the USA celebrates after scoring her team’s eleventh goal during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France group F match between USA and Thailand at Stade Auguste Delaune on June 11, 2019 in Reims, France. (Photo by Cathrin Mueller – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
REIMS, FRANCE – JUNE 11: Final score on the scoreboard after the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France group F match between USA and Thailand at Stade Auguste Delaune on June 11, 2019 in Reims, France. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)Up Next
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Anger over NFL protests has cooled now, in large part because Trump has moved on to other topics and because NFL players have found more direct ways to combat injustice. But for a few weeks in the fall of 2017, the protest issue consumed the league, turning every game into a will-they-or-won’t-they political flashpoint.
There’s no indication yet that the World Cup is headed that direction; Trump leavened his criticism of Rapinoe’s stance with praise for the team. “I love watching women’s soccer,” he said during the Hill interview. “They’re really talented.” But all it would take to change that and mobilize opposition would be one early-morning tweet from the president.
Rapinoe and the rest of the U.S. team play France on Friday in the World Cup quarterfinals.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.
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