President Trump on Wednesday announced a delegation of female officials to attend the Women’s World Cup final in France this weekend to support the U.S. national team.
The seven-person delegation will be led by Deputy Commerce Secretary Karen Dunn Kelley, the White House said.
{mosads}Other administration officials who will attend Sunday’s match in Lyon are U.S. Ambassador to France Jamie McCourt, Director of the Peace Corps Josephine Olsen, Health and Human Services official Seema Verma and State Department official Marie Royce.
Shauna Rohbock, a former professional soccer player and member of Trump’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition will also join, as will Kelly Loeffler, co-owner of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.
The U.S. women’s national team will face either Sweden or the Netherlands in Sunday’s final match.
In 2015, then-President Obama sent a six-person delegation to the Women’s World Cup final in Vancouver. It was led by Jill Biden, and included her husband, then-Vice President Joe Biden.
Trump has recently had a public feud with the U.S. team’s co-captain Megan Rapinoe, who previously said she would not visit the White House if the team won the World Cup.
“I am a big fan of the American Team, and Women’s Soccer, but Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job!” Trump tweeted last week.
“We haven’t yet invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the TEAM, win or lose,” the president continued. “Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team. Be proud of the Flag that you wear. The USA is doing GREAT!”
Rapinoe has been an outspoken critic of Trump and has referred to herself as a “walking protest.”
She has previously refused to place her hand over her heart during the national anthem in protest of his administration’s policies and police brutality, and during this year’s tournament stood silent, refraining from joining her team in singing the “Star-Spangled Banner.”