WNBA player Sue Bird says Trump’s attacks on girlfriend Megan Rapinoe ‘cannot shake’ the soccer star
WNBA player Sue Bird is defending her girlfriend, Megan Rapinoe after Donald Trump criticized the U.S. Women’s Soccer team star for refusing to go to the White House.
In an op-ed piece for The Players’ Tribune titled “So the President F****** Hates My Girlfriend,” the Seattle Storm guard shared her many feelings about the upcoming World Cup Semifinals and Rapinoe’s stunning performance in the tournament thus far. But, Bird couldn’t help but to also address the president’s “hate-filled Twitter spree” from Wednesday, where he responded to Rapinoe’s comments against the administration.
“What’s it like to have the literal President of the literal United States (of literal America) go Full Adolescent Boy on your girlfriend?” Bird wrote. “Hmm. Well… it’s WEIRD. And I’d say I actually had a pretty standard reaction to it: which was to freak out a little.”
The basketball player went on to say that the scary part of having the president speak out was actually the reaction to his response, which was outrage in the form of other tweets, blog posts and even takedowns of Rapinoe on Fox News. Still, it all made Bird wonder if there’s “nothing better demanding [Trump’s] attention.”
“It would be ridiculous to the point of laughter if it wasn’t so gross. (And if his legislations and policies weren’t ruining the lives of so many innocent people),” she continued.
Despite Bird’s own visceral reaction, she said that Rapinoe didn’t have the same response to the criticism.
“You just cannot shake that girl. She’s going to do her thing, at her own damn speed, to her own damn rhythm, and she’s going to apologize to exactly NO ONE for it,” Bird wrote. “So when all the Trump business started to go down last week, I mean — the fact that Megan just seemed completely unfazed? It’s strange to say, but that was probably the only normal thing about it.”
Rapinoe illustrated her resilience just two days after Trump’s tweet when she scored two goals in the World Cup quarterfinals, where the U.S. beat France 2-1.
At that moment, Bird writes that she “was everyone” when she felt happy, crazy, proud, American, and “in love with Megan Rapinoe.” And ahead of Tuesday’s Semifinals, people are appreciating Bird’s open expression of love and pride.
OH MY GOD READ THIS article by Sue Bird who is the partner of the REVOLUTIONARY BLONDE SOCCER LESBIAN GODDESS @mPinoe (not Abby, you guys, she’s the OTHER ONE) Sue doesn’t know about the soccer either but she loves her person!!! @AbbyWambach read this babe @USWNT LFG!!! https://t.co/QDw8BLq9ga
— Glennon Doyle (@GlennonDoyle) July 2, 2019
That was the most pure and generous expression of love I’ve read in ..maybe forever.
— JimmyG (@JimmyG303) July 2, 2019
Oh my god. This article is incredible. Sue is incredible. And, of course, so is @mPinoe!
— Eliza Orlins (@eorlins) July 2, 2019
This article made me cry.
— Justine Larbalestier (@JustineLavaworm) July 2, 2019
Others criticized the piece and said that Trump never expressed hate toward Rapinoe, but that it was the other way around.
Pretty sure the President specifically issued a statement of not hating your girlfriend.
— Vaughn Fry (@VaughnFry) July 2, 2019
Love this team and hope they win it. That said, the president only said she should respect the flag, wasn’t nearly the ‘slam’ ppl are making it out to be and he invited them win or lose. He also said he is a fan of the team. Tired of the victim mindset.
— Milksy25 (@milksy25) July 2, 2019
I am a huge soccer fan and was glued to the tv during the last couple runs. But its the NATIONAL TEAM. @mPinoe needs to stop disrespecting the Nation and our President while she wears our flag and colors. Simple as that. Dont care how good you think you are.
— r d m (@TheReal_Riley) July 2, 2019
Still, one person decided to make a statement against those making political arguments with a shirt endorsing Rapinoe Bird 2020.
RAPINOE BIRD 2020https://t.co/FLMJdhyP9Z pic.twitter.com/utpKpKbUjm
— BreakingT (@breakingtco) July 2, 2019
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