Megan Rapinoe says Trump is a hate-spewing 'white nationalist' who's done nothing to help his own supporters
Megan Rapinoe, co-captain of the United States women’s national soccer team and an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump called the POTUS a "white nationalist" who was hurting his own base of voters.
In a portion of an interview she did with Vice’s Anand Giridharadas, published on Tuesday, May 19, the soccer star slammed Trump's policies as a president and at the same time highlighted the importance of immigration and equality in the society.
"I think we know that immigration does not cause loss of jobs. Immigration is actually good for the economy. We know that women in the workforce is good for the economy. We know that equality is good for the economy. We know that mass incarceration is bad for the economy. We know that mass incarceration is bad for society and ends up costing us more money in the long run, the war on drugs, whatever it may be. I think that that has proven to be really detrimental," she said.
She added: "Now, obviously, we have a white nationalist — I think — in the White House and the spewing of hate and the 'othering' of the rest of the country has only led to more rift between people and more despair and more anxiety and more fear going forward. There’s been nothing to ease Donald Trump’s base, really. There’s been nothing, it’s not like he’s given them a bunch of jobs. It’s not like he’s made life really better for them, he’s just given them this false reason why maybe they’re not happy with their lives. There’s been no sort of path forward."
When Rapinoe was asked if she would ever consider putting her name on the ballot, she said that she would not completely rule that idea out. "I’m not totally shutting the door, but it seems wild," she said. When the interviewer pressed on, asking her what governmental office she would like to run for, Rapinoe had her sights set on the highest, saying that she would delegate many responsibilities to people around her who were more capable of performing the jobs than her.
"I mean, President, of course. If I’m going to do, I want the biggest, baddest post. That way, I can be the president, but then I get to pick everyone else who’s way smarter and way more qualified and way better at everything to actually do the thing. I’m not here being like ‘I’m the smartest, I should be the president.’ I’m actually like ‘I’m wholly unqualified for probably any position in government,’ but I’ve got that little bit of humility where I can be like ‘You’re smarter, you do this, you do this, you do this,'" she said.
Last year Rapinoe made headlines when she made it clear in an interview that she was "not going to the f**king White House" if her team won the Women’s World Cup. Rapinoe also called the president “sexist”, “misogynist”, “small-minded”, “racist” and “not a good person" in a separate interview at the time.
"Women’s soccer player, @mPinoe, just stated that she is 'not going to the F...ing White House if we win.' Other than the NBA, which now refuses to call owners, owners (please explain that I just got Criminal Justice Reform passed, Black unemployment is at the lowest level in our Country’s history, and the poverty index is also best number EVER), 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!" Trump wrote in a series of tweets last year in reply to Rapinoe's declaration.