Former President Donald Trump says “woke politics” contributed to the US Women’s soccer team’s dismal opening performance in the Tokyo Olympics.
“The US Women’s Soccer team is a very good example of what’s going on,” Trump told a crowd during a campaign-style rally in Arkansas on Saturday night.
“Woke politics takes the life and joy out of everything. Woke-ism makes you lose, ruins your mind and ruins you as a person. You become warped. You become demented,” he said during the speech to the Turning Point Action political action committee in Phoenix.
“Earlier this week, [the women’s team] unexpectedly lost to Sweden, three to nothing, and Americans were happy about it,” Trump told the crowd, who responded by cheering.
“You proved that point before I even said it,” Trump added to the audience, shaking his head.
The US Women’s team, favored to win a gold medal in Tokyo and ranked No. 1 in the world, has traveled down a rocky road so far in the Olympic Games.
The team — known for some members’ protests against racism, including by kneeling during the National Anthem — started off with a stunning 3-0 loss to Sweden. It rebounded with a 6-1 win over New Zealand on Saturday.
During his Arizona speech, Trump also doubled-down against the Cleveland Indians changing their name to the Cleveland Guardians.
“The Cleveland Indians will be changing their name, a name that was filled with history and memories. The new name will be the Cleveland Guardians, which is terrible,” he told the crowd.
“If I were a [Native American], I’d sue,” the former president said.
“I mean, what could be better? Especially if you have a good team, the Cleveland Indians, it’s one of the greatest names. One of the most incredible logos. People love it. They are going absolutely crazy in Ohio over the name change. The Cleveland Guardians, what’s that all about?” he said.
“The insanity of the left knows no bounds. And both Indians and baseball fans should be greatly insulted. They want to take away our history, our heritage, our culture, and everything that holds us together,” Trump added.
He had slammed the baseball team last Friday when the name change was announced, calling it a “disgrace.”
“Can anybody believe that the Cleveland Indians, a storied and cherished baseball franchise since taking the name in 1915, are changing their name to the Guardians?” former commander-in-chief said in a statement.