Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, at the urging of two bipartisan House lawmakers, sent an invitation to the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team on Sunday evening to visit the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, following their victory in the World Cup over the weekend.
Pelosi tweeted the invitation out at the request of Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Illinois) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Florida). Both lawmakers, from separate parties, chair the Soccer Caucus in Congress, the Washington Times reported.
The invitation was issued out to the team as a whole, and can be accepted by the team “or individually to celebrate your inspiring victory,” Pelosi wrote.
Congrats to @uswnt for winning w/ strength, unity & patriotism. By popular, bipartisan demand & with @USRepKCastor & @RepLaHood, co-chairs of Soccer Caucus, I’m pleased to invite the players to the US Capitol as a team or individually to celebrate your inspiring victory. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 8, 2019
The invitation comes after a bitter back-and-forth between team captain Megan Rapinoe and President Donald Trump.
Rapinoe, who performs a silent protest during the playing of the national anthem by refusing to sing or hold her hand over her heart, upset the president late last month, who told a reporter he took issue with her doing so.
When asked in June if he thought the protest was appropriate, Trump said, “No, I don’t think so,” per reporting from USA Today.
The following day, Rapinoe was asked whether she and her teammates would go to the White House if they were invited to do so, supposing they won the World Cup. Rapinoe replied they would not be going “to the f—ing White House” if the offer was made.
That comment resulted in a lengthy response from Trump on social media, in which he tweeted that Rapinoe “should WIN before she TALKS!”
Trump added that he was “inviting the TEAM, win or lose,” Talking Points Memo reported. He added, “Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag.”
It’s unclear whether that invitation still stands, as a formal invite, following the victory on Sunday by the team, hasn’t been issued out. Trump did send a congratulatory message to the team following their win over the Netherlands.
Congratulations to the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team on winning the World Cup! Great and exciting play. America is proud of you all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 7, 2019
“Congratulations to the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team on winning the World Cup! Great and exciting play,” Trump wrote on his Twitter account. “America is proud of you all!”