Uncomfortable Moment: Trump's Controversial Query at Juventus' White House Visit
Trump experiences an uncomfortable scene at a bizarre football match.
In the lead-up to their Club World Cup match, Juventus Turin found themselves in an unwelcome spotlight following their visit to the Oval Office with U.S. President Donald Trump on June 16, 2025. Trump, known for his divisive remarks and political stances, caught the players off guard with an unexpected query about women in sports.
With Trump's decree from February, banning transgender athletes from women's sports, hanging over the games, the U.S. President gathered the Italian team behind him and addressed the media. He then suddenly turned to some of the players, including Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah, and asked, "Hey, guys, have any of you ever had a woman on your team?"
The team was clearly taken aback, leading to an awkward silence. Juventus' General Manager, Damien Comolli, eventually responded by highlighting the club's impressive women's team, which won the 2024–25 Serie A Femminile championship. Trump's response? "Well, they should play with women's teams, right?"
When Comolli didn't respond, Trump chuckled and commented, "He's very diplomatic." FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a noted friend of Trump, stood awkwardly by, watching the bizarre scene unfold.
Mixing Politics and Sports
The Juventus players weren't free of Trump's political rhetoric just yet. As the team continued to be used as a backdrop for his press conference, Trump discussed his potential attack on Iran, saying, "I haven't decided yet whether we'll take on Iran. There could be a regime change—we'll see."
Juventus coach Igor Tudor later described the White House visit as a significant honor, stating, "It was a great pleasure to be there." U.S. national player Weston McKennie, previously vocal about his distaste for Trump, remained tight-lipped about the incident. Back in 2020, while still with FC Schalke, McKennie had publicly criticized Trump, calling him "ignorant" and a "racist."
Sources: ntv.de, ter/sid
Background:
Trump's question to Juventus players revived debates regarding gender and sports, particularly the participation of women and transgender athletes in male-dominated teams or categories. With his February 2025 "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order, Trump enacted policies such as the NCAA's new gender eligibility rules, limiting competition to biological females in women's sports categories.
The incident, clouded in controversy and uncomfortableness, quickly became one of the most talked-about events connected to Juventus' Club World Cup participation, with players preferring to keep the focus on football rather than divisive political issues. One player simply remarked, "I just want to play football, man." [1][2][3][4]
The Commission has not yet adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, but it was clear that football, specifically the sport's gender and inclusion issues, was not part of Trump's focus during his controversial query with the Juventus players at the White House visit in 2025. Despite his divisive comments on women in sports, Trump's proposed policies restricted competition to biological females in women's sports categories, just like in American-football leagues.
