U.S. Women’s Soccer star and outspoken Trump critic Megan Rapinoe continues to make the rounds celebrating her team’s World Cup win — and is making sure to continue hitting the president and his supporters in the process.
“I think we’re one step away from just saying a racial slur on national television, from the president of the United States,” Rapinoe told The Charlotte Observer in an interview Saturday. Asked about Trump’s much-maligned “go back” tweets and if they “crossed a line,” Rapinoe told the paper she found his comments “shocking.”
“All the lines were crossed forever ago for Donald Trump, dating back to birtherism and the whole thing,” she said. “But certainly, it’s shocking.”
The “go back” controversy started a little over a week ago, when Trump slammed the “Squad” of radical freshmen Democrats — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Ilhan Omar (MN), Rashinda Tlaib (MI), and Ayanna Pressley (MA) — in a pair of tweets:
So interesting to see ‘Progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!
The soccer star framed Trump’s critique of the far-left minority Democrats as anti-“diversity,” arguing that America was “built on the backs” of slaves and that in the end we should be celebrating diversity rather than disparaging it, like she accused Trump of doing.
“I think this country was quite literally built on the backs of people who weren’t from here and were forced to come here in slavery,” said Rapinoe. “But just in a broader sense, the best thing about this country is the diversity in the country and everything that it brings, and the fact that we have welcomed people from all over to create what has become the United States of America.”
The positive aspect of Trump’s “go back” comments, she suggested, is that the Left will be even more motivated now to dethrone him in 2020.
The Observer also asked her about the mounting calls for her to get into politics, but she shrugged it off, saying she isn’t sure if that’s her cup of tea, but left the door open. “I always say I’m so unqualified. And they say, ‘Well, there are no qualifications anymore,'” she said.
Rapinoe’s war with Trump dominated stories about her team’s World Cup achievements this year. The star forward has repeatedly used her platform to promote “resistance” to the president. Rapinoe was the first high-profile soccer star to kneel in solidarity with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest of the country. As a result of the U.S. team banning kneeling, Rapinoe continued her protest by refusing to put her hand over her heart during the performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” a move she framed as an “F you” to Trump and his administration.
In June, Rapinoe preemptively rejected an invitation to visit the White House should her team win the whole thing. “I’m not going to the f*****g White House,” she told soccer magazine Eight By Eight. “No. I’m not going to the White House. We’re not gonna be invited. I doubt it.”
In response, Trump tweeted, “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. 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,” he added. “Be proud of the Flag that you wear. The USA is doing GREAT!”
Related: Report: NYPD Investigating Vandalism Of Megan Rapinoe Posters As Hate Crime