Juventus meet Donald Trump at the White House as he discusses Iran conflict and transgender women in sport
A selection of Juventus players, coaches and executives attended the Oval Office and met with President Donald Trump on Wednesday before the Italian side's Club World Cup opener.
A Juventus delegation including U.S. men's national team players Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah and owner John Elkann were invited to the White House, where they presented President Trump with a No 47 jersey.
Advertisement
Head coach Igor Tudor, Italy internationals Manuel Locatelli and Federico Gatti, Netherlands midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic, former defender Giorgio Chiellini, who now works as the club's director of football strategy, CEO Maurizio Scanavino and general manager Damien Comolli were all also in attendance, alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The Juventus delegation stood in the background as Trump answered questions on the Iran-Israel conflict, while he also attempted to discuss transgender women's participation in sport with the team.
'We have a very good women's team,' Comolli replied, when asked by Trump if they thought a woman could make the Juventus men's team.
Juventus were in Washington D.C. ahead of the beginning of their Club World Cup campaign against Al Ain at Audi Field on Wednesday evening.
World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers and Super Bowl winners Philadelphia Eagles are among those to have visited the White House in Trump's second presidency and it has been a tradition under previous presidents for championship-winning sides to be invited.
Trump has a close relationship with FIFA president Infantino, who was in the Oval Office in March to sign an executive order establishing a White House task force for the 2026 men's World Cup.
Juventus and U.S. midfielder McKennie previously criticised Trump during his first term as president.
Speaking in June 2020, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter Protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, McKennie told German media outlet Bild: 'I don't think that Trump is the right one for the job as the president. I stand by these words. I believe he doesn't understand the responsibility he has for the entire country. I think he's ignorant. I don't support him a bit. I don't think he's a man to stand by his word. In my eyes, you can call him racist.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
16 minutes ago
- CNN
Three military possibilities for Iran that Trump is likely considering
Former DOD official Alex Plitsas joins Abby at the magic wall to talk through what he sees as three military options that President Trump is likely considering on Iran.
Bloomberg
17 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Fed Stays the Course as Divisions Creep In
US Federal Reserve officials continued to pencil in two interest-rate cuts in 2025, though new projections showed a growing divide among policymakers over the trajectory for borrowing costs as the shockwaves from Donald Trump's tariffs make their way through the US economy. Seven officials now foresee no rate cuts this year, compared with four in March, and two others pointed to one cut. At the same time, 10 officials expect it will be appropriate to lower rates at least twice before the end of 2025. Fed officials and economists broadly expect the president's expanded use of tariffs—most of which are the subject of litigation as potentially illegal—to weigh on economic activity and put upward pressure on prices if they remain in place. Add to that a proposed bill in Congress that could add $3.4 trillion to the national debt, and nervousness in the near term is likely to remain.
Associated Press
18 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Rays overcome 8-run deficit to beat Orioles 12-8 in the biggest comeback in the majors this season
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a tying two-run homer in the fifth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays overcame an eight-run deficit to beat the Baltimore Orioles 12-8 on Wednesday night in the largest comeback in the majors this season. Junior Camerino had four hits and two RBIs to help Tampa Bay match the biggest comeback in franchise history. Tampa Bay also rallied from eight down in a 10-8 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 18, 2012, and in a 10-9 win over Toronto on July 25, 2009. The Orioles last gave away an eight-run lead on April 28, 2017 in a 14-11 loss to the New York Yankees. The largest blown lead in franchise history came in a 14-13 victory over Detroit on April 25, 1901, when the team was based in Milwaukee. Baltimore had an eight-run second inning. Colton Cowser hit a three-run homer, Cedric Mullins added a solo shot, Gunnar Henderson had an RBI single and Laureano hit another three-run homer. Christopher Morel hit an RBI double and Jake Mangum's two-run single cut it to 8-3 in the third. Curtis Mead hit a two-out triple in the fourth, and Lowe's Homer in the fifth made it 8-8. Jonathan Aranda had a two-run single int he Rays' four-run seventh. Lowe has at least a hit and a run in seven consecutive games, the longest active streak of its kind in the major. He's batting .464 (13 of 28) with two home runs, five RBIs and eight runs during that span. Mason Montgomery (1-1) was the winner. Tampa Bay had its four-game winning streak snapped Tuesday with a 5-1 loss to Baltimore. Key moment Diaz hit a two-out single, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Andrew Kittredge (1-1) and, after Lowe drew a walk, scored on a single by Camerino to give the Rays their first lead in the seventh. Josh Lowe hit an RBI single and stole second before Jonathan Aranda's two-run single made it 12-8. Key stat The eight-run comeback ties for the largest in franchise history. The Rays rallied from down eight runs to beat the Los Angeles Angels 10-8 on Aug. 18, 2012 and to beat Toronto10-9 on July 25, 2009. Up next Charlie Morton (3-7, 6.05 ERA) was set to pitch Thursday for the Orioles against Drew Rasmussen (6-4, 2.55) in the series finale. ___ AP MLB:
