Evangelical leader Franklin Graham has given his two cents on the U.S. Women's Soccer team losing in the World Cup, saying he "wasn't sad" when the team lost and that he agrees with former President Donald Trump's statement on the team's loss.
The U.S. Women's Soccer team's participation in the World Cup ended after Megan Rapinoe, an activist and one of the team's most well-known players, missed a penalty kick on Sunday in the team's game against Sweden. Graham, the son of the famous evangelical leader Billy Graham, said he used to support the U.S. Women's Soccer team, but noted that as of late, "they have shown disrespect for the U.S." and have also "used their platform to promote the LGBTQ agenda.
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"When they lost, I wasn’t sad," Graham wrote on X, the platform once known as Twitter. "I wish I didn’t feel that way, but when players think it is more about them than the nation they represent, I can’t support that. I agree with former President Donald Trump who said about the team: 'WOKE EQUALS FAILURE.'"
The US Women’s National Soccer Team lost to Sweden yesterday at the 2023 Women's World Cup. I used to pull for our women’s soccer team, but recently they have shown disrespect for the US & have used their platform to promote the LGBTQ agenda. When they lost, I wasn’t sad. I wish…
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 7, 2023
Graham's statements come after Trump stated on Truth Social that the team's loss is "fully emblematic" of the current state of "our once great nation." The former president added that many players on the team were "openly hostile to America," and that no other countries in the World Cup "behaved in such a manner, or even close."
Graham had endorsed Trump ahead of the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, with the evangelical leader attributing his 2016 victory to divine providence. However, Graham has declined to endorse Trump in the 2024 Republican primary, and has opted to remain neutral instead.
Prior to Graham declining to endorse Trump, the former president complained last week of "great disloyalty" among evangelical leaders who failed to endorse him for his 2024 presidential run.
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“Nobody has ever done more for the right to life than Donald Trump. I put three Supreme Court justices, who all voted, and they got something that they’ve been fighting for 64 years, for many, many years," Trump told journalist David Brody during an interview.
Rapinoe has been the subject of criticism from many conservatives regarding her views, including her support for transgender athletes competing against biological women. In July, she said she would "absolutely" support and welcome transgender athletes onto the U.S. women's national team, even if a transgender athlete replaced a biological woman.