U.S. women’s national soccer team captain Megan Rapinoe talked about her conservative, Fox News-watching parents during an interview published at The Guardian on Saturday. Rapinoe, who made waves for protesting the national anthem at recent World Cup games, expressed dismay over her accepting parents’ conservative views, joking that they need “therapy.”
“I feel like I grew up with all of these lessons [about equality], but nothing was ever spoken. No language was ever put around it. Both of my parents should be really progressive — especially my mom — and I don’t get that they’re not. I’m always saying: ‘You guys should really be Democrats!’ But they’re not, so what’s happening?” Rapinoe told the outlet.
The athlete said that she is “very similar” to her parents, but was dumbfounded by her father likely voting for President Donald Trump in 2016.
“I think my dad voted for Trump and I’ll say: ‘I don’t get it. How are you simultaneously as proud as punch of me, and watching Fox News all the time, [who are doing] takedowns of your daughter?’ That’s why I’m like: ‘You guys need to go to therapy.'”
Though there have “definitely been some dust-ups,” she said, her family is close.
“I’m very close to my family. It’s not like: ‘Ugh, I’m from a conservative town and I never talk to them any more.’ I talk to my parents all the time, every day.”
“And I feel like I have seen progress and growth,” she added. “I would love it if people understood you should never say racist things and be OK with gay people, or whatever it is. But, obviously, it doesn’t happen that quickly.”
In May, Rapinoe told Yahoo! Sports that she’ll “probably never put [her] hand over my heart” for the national anthem again. The next month, when the U.S. faced off against Thailand, the forward indeed refused to place her hand over her heart during the airing of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” According to Rapinoe, the protest was an “F you” to “sexist,” “racist,” and “small-minded” Trump.
“I feel like it’s kind of defiance in and of itself to just be who I am and wear the jersey, and represent it. Because I’m as talented as I am, I get to be here, you don’t get to tell me if I can be here or not,” she said. “So it’s kind of a good ‘F you’ to any sort of inequality or bad sentiments that the [Trump] administration might have towards people who don’t look exactly like him. Which, God help us if we all looked like him. Scary. Really scary. Ahh, disturbing,” Rapinoe added.
In a video interview posted by Eight by Eight’s at the end of June, Rapinoe scoffed at the idea of accepting an invitation from the president to the White House if the national team were to win the World Cup (which it eventually did).
“I’m not going to the f***ing White House,” she said. “No. I’m not going to the White House. … We’re not gonna be invited. I doubt it.”
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Trump quickly responded to Rapinoe via Twitter, writing in a series of tweets, “Women’s soccer player, [Megan Rapinoe] just stated that she is ‘not going to the F…ing White House if we win.’ Other than the NBA, … 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 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!” the president added.