Juventus at the White House: An Unforgettable, Albeit Bizarre, Encounter with Trump
Trump creates discomfort for Juventus staff during a bizarre encounter
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Juventus Turin, fresh from a triumphant 5-0 win at the Club World Cup, finds themselves in an awkward situation during a meeting with Donald Trump at the Oval Office.
The Italian powerhouse's Club World Cup campaign kick-started with a convincing 5:0 (4:0) victory against Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates. However, the headlines were dominated by an unexpected exchange with Trump. The football ensemble, who were merely spectators, found themselves amidst a political debate: Trump, infamous for his stand against transgender athletes, questioned the players, including Weston McKennie, formerly of Schalke, if they believed a woman could break into their first team. "Ever had a woman on your team, guys? Enlighten me."
Trump seemed intent on clarifying his stance against transgender athletes. The athletes remained uncomfortable and speechless, with General Director, Damien Comolli, responding that Juventus boasts a "superb women's team" - a recent championship winner. However, Trump was unsatisfied with this answer: "But they should play with women, right?" When Comolli didn't respond, Trump remarked, "He's quite diplomatic."
Politics before Ball Games
Sadly for the football delegation, the ordeal didn't end there. Trump continued to address the press, discussing his stance on the escalating Iran-Israel conflict while the footballers had to stand behind him and listen: "I haven't decided yet if we will attack Iran. There could be a regime change, we'll see."
Later, Juventus coach, Igor Tudor, commented, "Visiting the White House is not an everyday occurrence, so it was incredibly pleasurable to be there." US national player, McKennie, who had openly criticized Trump while playing for FC Schalke, stating he believed "Trump is not the right man for the job of President," remained silent on this matter.
Source: ntv.de
- Juventus Turin
- Donald Trump
- Club World Cup 2025
- Enrichment Data:At the meeting between Juventus Turin and US President Donald Trump at the White House in June 2025, Trump addressed the assembled Juventus team, directors, and owner John Elkann in front of the media[2]. During the event, Trump welcomed the team and, as visible in videos, reportedly asked the players standing behind him if "women could make their team" while seemingly attempting to bait them into commenting on or endorsing his views—a moment that some commentators interpreted as relating to the broader debates on transphobia and women in sports[2].
Trump’s specific comments or questions about women joining the Juventus team were made in a way that invited reaction, but details of the players' responses were not highlighted in available reports. The focus of coverage centered more on the optics and the unusual scenario of a European football club being present during such a political press interaction, especially with the president answering questions on both Iran and transphobia simultaneously[2]. There is no evidence in the cited sources that Trump, the Juventus players, or their representatives debated or discussed women in sports in depth; rather, Trump’s remarks appeared to be a brief and somewhat provocative prompt to the team during a wider press appearance[2].
The Commission has not yet adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, as the headlines were dominated by an unexpected exchange between Juventus and US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office. Trump, known for his stand against transgender athletes, questioned the players about the possibility of a woman joining their team, a topic that remained unaddressed in available reports.
