Donald Trump left the Juventus men’s team speechless during their visit to the White House on Wednesday (18 June) as he asked them a very bizarre question.
The 79-year-old US president welcomed the Italian football club to spend time in the Oval Office during their time in America for the FIFA Club World Cup.
In what looked like a very awkward set up, the players were lined up behind Trump as he sat at his desk in front of them.
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The team, which includes US nationals Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie, triumphed with a 5-0 win over Al Ain before their brief visit to see the president.
A now-viral clip shows Trump seemingly attempting to goad the team into entering the debate on transgender players in sport.
He asked McKennie: “Could a woman make your team fellas, tell me? You think?”
After some uncomfortable seconds with no-one saying anything, seemingly as confused as we are, Manuel Locatelli answered: ‘Yeah?’
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Trump then insisted: “You’re being nice,” before turning to the team’s leaders and asking: “What do you think? Think a woman could make the team?”
He continued to ask: “General manager, what do you think?”
General manager Damien Comolli said in response: “We have a very good women’s team though.”
The Republican leader then replied: “You do have but they should be playing with women, right? It’s one of those things. See, they’re very diplomatic.”
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As to be expected, the ‘strange’ questioning has sparked backlash on social media, with people making their views clear in the comments under the video.
One baffled viewer wrote: “What an insanely odd thing to ask in this situation.”
Another added: “What goes through his head?!? Such a strange question.”
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Meanwhile, a third penned: “Ugh! There’s wars happening and THIS is what the president is focusing on.”
“Excruciatingly touch watch,” remarked another, with someone else adding: “They’re all uncomfortable”.
And over on Twitter, someone wrote: “Crazy when a soccer team is more diplomatic than the President of the United States.”
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Another social media user chimed in with: “Maga is more obsessed with trans people than trans people.”
It comes after Trump issued a ban on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports back in February.
He signed a controversial order, which seeks to ban transgender athletes from competing on girls' and women's sports teams by denying federal funds for schools that allow it.
Topics: Donald Trump, Football, Sport, Social Media
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Madison Burgess