Olympian and soccer legend Megan Rapinoe addressed President Donald Trump’s viral call with the U.S. men’s hockey team on her podcast this week.
‘The United States men’s hockey team, in their utter moment of glory … ruined it for themselves because they allowed themselves to be totally co-opted by a clown,’ Rapinoe said on A Touch More with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe. ‘And now, you’re a clown. You look like a clown.’
During a locker room call with the men’s team, President Donald Trump invited the players to the State of the Union address. He briefly mentioned the women’s hockey team, which also won gold during the Olympics, saying he had to invite them too, or he would be ‘impeached.’ The men’s hockey team laughed at the President’s comment. President Trump also said he had medals for the team, which Rapinoe addressed in her discussion with Bird.’You have the medal. You have the medal swinging around your neck that you won, that you fought for, that you dreamt about your whole life, and then you just gave this whole moment over to this person who you know is just only gonna use it for him. Gonna totally co-opt it,’ Rapinoe said.
‘Why don’t you respect you more than to have that moment be taken by someone who, for no reason at all, just takes a huge swing and a jab at women who did the exact same thing that you did?’
President Trump’s now-viral call generated varying reactions and backlash, including rapper Flavor Flav extending an invitation to the women’s team for an alternative celebration. Team USA’s women declined the President’s invitation, citing timing and previous commitments. On Feb. 24, President Trump said they would ‘soon’ visit the White House.
Several members of the men’s team eventually addressed the chatter surrounding the call, including Olympian Jack Hughes and his brother, Quinn Hughes ‘People are so negative about things, Jack Hughes. ‘I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them, and we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us.’
‘We’re just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts, and continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men’s and women’s at the same time. And really not detract from that with a distasteful joke.’
In her conversation with Bird, Rapinoe said she understands that sometimes things happen in a locker room that can catch athletes off guard, putting them in an awkward position. Still, she explained that she didn’t understand the men’s team’s reaction to Trump’s ‘jab’ on the call.
‘I think, for me, I left this whole interaction and this whole kerfuffle, if you will, like, yes, why are you laughing at your friends?’ Rapinoe said.
‘But also like, why don’t you respect you enough to not be used in this moment for this unique achievement that is truly one of the greatest achievements in life? … And now this is what people think about your moment. And that sucks.’
‘Yeah, we should have reacted differently,’ Swayman told the media. ‘We know that we are so excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team, and to share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for.’
‘I think, for me, I left this whole interaction and this whole kerfuffle, if you will, like, yes, why are you laughing at your friends? But also like why don’t you respect you enough to not be used in this moment for this unique achievement that is truly one of the greatest achievements in life … and now this is what people think about your moment. And that sucks.’