Earlier this week, the United States Women’s National Team made headlines across the country when the majority of the team chose not to sing or put their hand over their hearts during the playing of the national anthem before Friday night’s World Cup match against Vietnam. And one prominent Republican politician is not happy about it.
In a tweet on Sunday afternoon, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley sent a pretty brutal message blasting the team and claiming that the players should be more grateful for living in the United States and representing their country on such a big stage.
“The US women’s soccer team is living the American Dream. They were born in the freest, fairest country in the world that has rewarded their hard work,” Haley said in a tweet.
The US women’s soccer team is living the American Dream. They were born in the freest, fairest country in the world that has rewarded their hard work.
They should remember that blessing & the men & women (like my husband) proudly defending it next time the national anthem plays.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) July 23, 2023
“They should remember that blessing & the men & women (like my husband) proudly defending it next time the national anthem plays,” Haley continued.
It’s a pretty brutal message to the team, and it led to plenty of reactions on social media as people gave their thoughts on the matter.
I promise you no sane individual (and definitely no one in my age demo) truly cares if you sing it at the top of your lungs at the World Cup or you just stand in silence 🤷♂️ we have the “freedom” to sing or not to sing https://t.co/4BRButdnhy
— William Patterson Whitelaw IV (@whitelaw827) July 23, 2023
“Freest, fairest” meaning you don’t have to sing if you don’t want to, you don’t have to stand if you don’t want to, and you don’t have to put your hand over your heart if you don’t want to.
That’s the kind of thing men & women (like me) defended our Constitution for. https://t.co/yOL0c9ShwE
— Haley Carter (She/Her) (@H_C_Carter) July 23, 2023
Republicans still aren’t gonna vote for you Nikki. https://t.co/SgMtc2pyKT
— Mike L. Goodman (@TheM_L_G) July 23, 2023
ask military personnel how they sing the national anthem, i dare you https://t.co/o6cnRgquKf
— chad, american cutie (@endofanerajc) July 23, 2023
Megan Rapinoe doesn’t like you. https://t.co/cyPzVGNs4v
— nubia ✰ (@nxbaafnkln) July 23, 2023
For the stick to sports crowd – should politicians have to stay out of sports?
Considering I don’t believe I need to stick to sports…let’s address this absolute buffoonery! https://t.co/AxP7ptnnJf
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) July 24, 2023
The team began their World Cup run in dominant fashion by beating Vietnam 3-0 in their opening match of the tournament.
