Team USA gives Trump the cold shoulder
By Guillaume Mahot
Is the White House going to be a place looked down on by athletes? Last Sunday, Team USA was winning the Women’s World Cup in Lyon (France) after a victory over Holland 2-0 for their fourth world title, a tremendous record in the competition. Iconic midfielder Megan Rapinoe was contributing to bringing the trophy back home with her six goals in the tournament and US fans were celebrating in the French city. Still, back to North America, things (quickly) became much more serious.
The White House, which is used to welcoming American sportsmen and sportswomen when they win something, has been suffering several refusals since Donald Trump got elected in 2016. Team USA should be among them. As a matter of fact, Rapinoe said she would not respond to Trump’s invitation if there was one, and her teammates have great chances to follow her. Involved in politics and allergic to Trump’s positions, the midfielder took advantage of the Manhattan parade to reaffirm her point of view, arguing that her squad was a symbol of tolerance and diversity, some qualities the US president apparently neither likes or has.
“In our team, we have pink-haired girls, purple-haired girls, tattooed girls, some girls have dreadlocks, some are white, black and everything that stands between, some are heterosexual, some others are lesbian…Nothing could make me prouder than being the captain of such a team […] We must get better, we must love more and hate less. We must listen to people more and talk less […] It is our responsibility to make this world a better place to live in […] Give more, be greater, better than you have ever been.”
These last few years, Donald Trump accumulated provocative and aggressive declarations towards minorities and poor countries, creating a hostile climate whereas the country has never been so healthy with a very low unemployment rate. Everyone can remember the expression “shithole countries” which was denied by the White House (even though the president admitted that his words were tough): Trump was notably talking about African countries and Haiti. Everyone can remember his abusive attitude towards NFL black players kneeling down and refusing to sing the national anthem in protest to the police blunders towards black people. In reaction to that, the Golden State Warriors (NBA) had refused to visit him; they had even done better: last January after a victory in Washington, they had decided to meet former US president Barack Obama, a true snub for the current president. Politics and sports do have narrow links and relationships, and Trump is learning it at his expense.
Africa Global News Publication
