Trump's Strange Question Leaves Juventus Players Awkward during White House Visit
Trump creates an embarrassing scene during a ridiculous football match.
Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Football powerhouse Juventus Turin gets an invite to the Oval Office courtesy of President Donald Trump, but the visit turns sour as Trump poses an odd question.
Following their impressive 5-0 victory over Al-Ain in the Club World Cup, the Juventus team found themselves in a peculiar situation at the White House. No sports-related questions were left unanswered, but the encounter with Trump became the headline of the day.
When a group photo was taken, Trump redirected his focus towards the footballers, asking some of the players, including former Schalke player Weston McKennie, if they believed a woman could make it into the first team. "Ever had a woman in the team, guys? Tell me about it."
Trump's intention was apparent: to emphasize his stance on transgender athletes. The football professionals visibly squirmed, with General Director Damien Comolli eventually response that the club has a "strong women's team." A recent victory in the championship hadn't satisfied the President: "But they should play with women, right?" Undeterred, Trump labeled Comolli diplomatic when he didn't respond, and his friend, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, smiled awkwardly during the scene.
Politics Meets Football in the White House
The football delegation wasn't off the hook yet: Trump continued his political rant on the escalating Iran-Israel conflict, making the athletes listen while he addressed the press. "I'm considering whether we'll attack Iran. There could be a regime change, let's see."
Reacting to the encounter, Juventus coach Igor Tudor said, "We were honored to visit the White House. It was an unforgettable experience." US national player McKennie, however, had been vocal about his disdain for Trump in 2020, during his time with FC Schalke. He called Trump an "ignorant and racist" man who doesn't understand his responsibilities and wasn't supportive of his policies [1].
Enrichment Data:
- Trump's stance on transgender athletes in sports is opposed, as evidenced by the executive order he issued in February 2025, banning transgender girls and women from participating in women’s sports. Signing Executive Order 14201 titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," he directed the Department of Education to urge athletic organizations like the NCAA and NFHS to undo records of transgender athletes [5].
- Visa applicants suspected of participating as transgender athletes in women's sports have their files flagged with 'SWS25' by the Trump administration, aiming to ban transgender athletes from entering the United States [5].
- Trump publicly pressured California officials to block a transgender student from competing in the girls' state track and field finals, threatening to withhold federal funding if the state did not comply with his demands [2].
- Recent Title IX rule changes proposed by the US Department of Energy could further restrict transgender athletes' participation in school sports programs, including allowing girls to try out for boys' noncontact sports if there is no equivalent girls’ team [4].
- LGBTQ+ advocates view these measures as discriminatory and consider them part of a broader national effort to vilify transgender youth [3].
Summary
- During his visit to Juventus, Trump questioned the players if they believed a woman could make it into the first team to emphasize his stance on transgender athletes in sports [1].
- Trump's stance on transgender athletes is oppositional, as evidenced by his executive order and efforts to restrict their participation in school sports programs [5][3][4].
- California officials were pressured by Trump to block a transgender student from competing in the state track and field finals [2].
- The encounter leaves a negative impression on the players, who may have felt uncomfortable with Trump's questions about transgender athletes [1].
- No direct link between Donald Trump's stance on transgender athletes and the Juventus visit has been found so far.
The Commission, amidst the ongoing general-news narrative, has not yet adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, as politics and sports moments, like the awkward exchange between President Trump and Juventus players during their White House visit, continue to dominate headlines. The politicians' stance on transgender athletes, as highlighted by Trump's questions towards the football team, raises concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates who view it as discriminatory.
