Megan Rapinoe, co-captain of the US women’s football team and an outspoken critic of the US president, has shared in an interview with The Guardian that her father almost certainly voted for Donald Trump.
When opening up on her relationship with her parents, she said:
“I’m very similar to how they are, even though I think my dad voted for Trump and I’ll say: 'I don’t get it. How are you simultaneously as proud as punch of me, and watching Fox News all the time, [who are doing] takedowns of your daughter'".
Two weeks after the US women’s football team celebrated their World Cup victory, the squad's attacking midfielder went on to say that she’s advised her parents to seek therapy, admitting to a spate of heated arguments over the years.
Despite this, Rapinoe is still very close to her family:
“I talk to my parents all the time, every day. And I feel like I have seen progress and growth. I would love it if people understood you should never say racist things and be OK with gay people, or whatever it is. But, obviously, it doesn’t happen that quickly", said Rapinoe.
She added:
“It’s heartening to learn that people with political differences can still remain close, even if things become strained at times. A lesson for us all".
The 33-year-old who won the Golden Boot at the World Cup tournament in France, found herself caught in a row with Donald Trump after footage shot earlier emerged of her saying: “I’m not going to the f***ing White House", when she was asked whether she would go there if her team celebrated victory at the World Cup. Rapinoe had urged her US teammates to “think hard” about associating themselves with the US president.
Rapinoe, who is gay, earlier lashed out at Trump, claiming him to be sexist and misogynistic, and describing herself as “a walking protest”.
She became one of the first athletes to join then-NFL player Colin Kaepernick’s protest against alleged police brutality by kneeling during the US national anthem.
Twitter users opinions were split on the athlete’s opening up regarding her father’s possible political preferences, saying:
Some rushed to note that her dad had done nothing illegal, saying it's okay to vote for who you want.
Others wrote sarcastically "How dare they have a different opinion?"