U.S. Women’s National Soccer player Megan Rapinoe, who has been vocal about her political beliefs, alluded to a potential presidential run during a Biden administration Equal Pay Day event.
“I need a fancy presidential binder,” she said as she took the podium. “Maybe one of these days.”
Rapinoe was introduced to the stage by first lady Jill Biden, who said she had the “grit, skill, and the ability to bring home championships.” She also commended her for being “fearless in [her] mission to make sure pay has no gender.”
A high-profile advocate of gender equality, Rapinoe testified at a hearing with the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday morning, saying people are unable to escape the “clutches of inequality.”
“There’s no accomplishment or power that will protect you from the clutches of inequality,” she said. “One cannot simply outperform inequality or be excellent enough to escape discrimination of any kind.”
This isn’t the first time the athlete alluded to a bid for higher office. Rapinoe hinted at a potential presidential run while slamming former President Donald Trump in 2020.
“I mean, president, of course,” she said in May 2020 when asked whether she considered running for office. “If I’m going to do it, I want the biggest, baddest post. That way, I can be the president, but then, I get to, like, pick everyone else who’s way smarter and way more qualified, way better at everything to actually do the things.”
In 2019, the controversial athlete protested “The Star-Spangled Banner,” saying that as a gay American, she understood how it felt to see the flag and “not have it protect all of your liberties.” She also led the charge in demanding to have herself and fellow female soccer players be paid the same as their male counterparts, claiming in October 2019 that her pay would triple if she were a man.
The Biden administration’s equal pay event featured Margaret Purce, one of Rapinoe’s teammates, and other U.S. female soccer players who have collectively spoken in favor of adjusted pay scales.
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Rapinoe, a 35-year-old Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Cup champion, is expected to make what could be her final World Cup appearance this December in Japan.
