US women’s soccer team co-captain Megan Rapinoe revealed that her father voted for President Trump in the 2016 election — despite her once referring to herself as a “walking protest” of his administration.
The World Cup champion said that not only does her dad support the president, but both her parents regularly tune in to Fox News, which covered her spat with Trump after she balked at the idea of visiting the White House.
“I’m very similar to how [my parents] 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?’” Rapinoe said in an interview Saturday with the Guardian.
Criticizing her parents’ political leanings, Rapinoe, who grew up in Redding, California, continued, “That’s why I’m like, ‘You guys need to go to therapy.’”
Rapinoe, 33, who came out as gay in 2012, has frequently used her platform to take aim at the Trump administration.
She has protested social injustices by kneeling during the national anthem, as well as refusing at the World Cup to sing along with “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The president has been critical of her political activism.
“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 said in a series of tweets in June.