Washington (AFP)
Donald Trump and the sports community join forces again: a baseball player declined an invitation to celebrate at the White House a historic victory for his club, the Washington Nationals, in the World Series because of the republican president's "cleaving rhetoric" .
Like football star Megan Rapinoe, Sean Doolittle said in an interview with the Washington Post, published Saturday, that he would not go Monday to the presidency, where his team is invited to celebrate his first Major League Baseball victory (MLB).
"I do not agree with (the president) on many things, in terms of politics, but my decision is mainly motivated by his cleavage rhetoric in our country and the fact that he supports conspiracy theories," he said. he explained.
"I would love to live this moment with my teammates, but I can not go," added the pitcher, emphasizing his commitment to the fight for the rights of migrants, blacks, gays or disabled . "I want to show my support" to these communities, he said.
According to the Washington daily, other members of the team, who must parade on Saturday in the streets of the US capital, could follow suit.
Donald Trump and his wife Melania were booed by spectators in one of the last games of the competition in Washington.
Athletes who have achieved feats are traditionally invited to the White House but since Donald Trump came to power, many have declined the invitation.
The attack on the American women's football team Megan Rapinoe, who claims her homosexuality and her commitment to the left politically, had announced even before the victory of his team in the World Cup that she would not go "to the p ... of White House ".
"Megan should never disrespect our country, the White House and our flag," retorted his tenant.
Donald Trump also opposed American footballer Colin Kaepernick, who in 2016 became the figurehead of a protest movement against police violence, kneeling on the American anthem.
© 2019 AFP