Former President Donald Trump has mocked Megan Rapinoe for her penalty miss against Sweden in the Women's World Cup, while claiming the USWNT's elimination from the competition is proof that "woke equals failure."
Rapinoe, 38, who was making her 202nd appearance for USWNT and will be retiring at the end of the domestic season, put her spot kick over the crossbar in the last-16 game on Sunday as the USWNT were knocked out by Sweden in a penalty shoot out. Sophia Smith and Kelley O'Hara also failed to score their penalties. Lina Hurtig's winning spot kick for Sweden narrowly crossed the line after it was partially saved by Alyssa Naeher, as the four-time Women's World Cup champions were eliminated at the earliest stage of the competition in their history.
Numerous conservative figures chose to mock Rapinoe and the USWNT after their defeat because of their "woke" views. There had been criticism of the team for largely staying silent rather than singing during the playing of the national anthem before each game.
Trump and Rapinoe, who is gay and campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality, have had a long-running feud dating back to when she was among the first prominent sport stars to kneel during the national anthem to protest against police brutality in 2017.
"The 'shocking and totally unexpected' loss by the U.S. Women's Soccer Team to Sweden is fully emblematic of what is happening to the our once great Nation under Crooked Joe Biden," Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday night.
"Many of our players were openly hostile to America—No other country behaved in such a manner, or even close. WOKE EQUALS FAILURE. Nice shot Megan, the USA is going to Hell!!! MAGA," he wrote.
The USWNT has been contacted for comment via email.
During the 2019 Women's World Cup, when Trump was president, Rapinoe declared that "I'm not going to the f****** White House" if the team were to win the competition.
"No. I'm not going to the White House, I don't think we'll be invited, I doubt it," she added.
In response, Trump posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Megan should never disrespect our country, the White House or our flag, especially since so much has been done for her and the team. Be proud of the flag you carry.
"I'm a big fan of the U.S. team and women's soccer, but Megan should first win before she speaks! Finish the job!"
Other conservative figures also ridiculed the USWNT, and particularly Rapinoe, for the defeat on Sunday.
Benny Johnson, podcast host and Turning Point USA chief creative officer, wrote on X, while mistakenly referring to Rapinoe's penalty miss as a free kick and the round of 16 game as the 16th round: "After winning back-to-back World Cups the heavily favored Team USA has been ELIMINATED by Sweden in the 16th round. Team USA's downfall was delivered by anti-America, anti-woman activist Megan Rapinoe's EMBARRASSING free kick here."
Catturd, a popular right-wing account with more than 1.9 million followers on X, wrote: "The anti-American USA woke women's soccer team has been eliminated and Megan Rapinoe is the cause of it. I can't stop laughing."
Speaking after the game on Sunday, Rapinoe, who is normally a reliable penalty taker and scored one in the 2019 Women's World Cup final against the Netherlands, described her miss on Sunday as "like a sick joke."
"That's why I had that smile on my face," she said. "I'm like, 'You've got be f****** kidding me.' I'm going to miss a penalty? I mean, honestly, I can't remember the last time I missed."
The last time Rapinoe had missed a spot kick was in 2018 during an NWSL match.
"That's the way it goes," she added. "I've definitely thought about [missing] before. That's always a possibility when you step up there. But I thought I was going to make it. I thought everyone was gonna make it. I would step up and take another one right now."
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About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
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