During a recent visit to the White House, Italian soccer giants Juventus FC were reportedly left speechless when President Donald Trump steered the conversation toward the topic of transgender athletes. The Serie A team, present for a visit ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup match against Al Ain, found themselves in an awkward exchange within the historic Oval Office.
The Exchange Unfolds
Standing behind the Resolute Desk with members of the Juventus squad behind him, President Trump posed a direct question to the players and officials: “Could a woman make your team, fellas?”
According to reports from the event, the question was met with stunned silence. Players exchanged glances but offered no immediate response. Trump reportedly pressed the team for an answer, leading him to address the club’s general manager, Damien Comolli.
Comolli responded calmly, stating, “We have a very good women’s team.” Undeterred, Trump pressed further, asking, “But they should be playing with women?” Comolli reportedly did not offer a reply to this follow-up question. Observing the team’s reserved reactions, Trump then commented, “See, they’re very diplomatic.”
Context: Trump’s Stance on Sports and Gender Identity
The questioning of the Juventus team occurred within the broader context of Donald Trump’s prominent focus on the issue of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. Restricting participation based on biological sex has been a recurring theme in his political platform and statements. His administration previously addressed this topic, emphasizing policies aimed at maintaining separate sports categories for males and females, often citing fairness concerns in women’s competitions. This issue has been a significant point of political debate and a focus of his past campaigns and policy proposals.
Reaction to the White House Visit
The scene in the Oval Office was widely described as awkward. Initial reports and online reactions highlighted the unusual nature of the President’s line of questioning during a visit by a sports team. Commenters online questioned the relevance of the topic to the Juventus visit and offered varied reactions to the interaction. Many lauded the Juventus players and Comolli for their handling of the moment, describing their quiet responses and Comolli’s brief reply as demonstrating dignity and diplomacy in a potentially sensitive situation. Others criticized the President’s focus on the topic during what was ostensibly a formal White House reception for a major international sports club.
