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Juventus players and club officials were left stunned during a visit to the White House after Donald Trump attempted to grill them on the subject of transgender women in sport.
One Italy’s most prestigious football clubs are currently in America, participating in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.
Juve began their campaign with a 5-0 win over Al Ain on Wednesday night, before which they spent time with US president in the Oval Office.
Lined up behind Trump, members of the first team squad, which includes America internationals Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie, looked awkward while the president held court in front of the assembled media.
Trump’s initial question was directed at former Leeds United midfielder McKennie who was asked for his opinion transgender athletes.
Turning to his fellow American, Trump asked: ‘Could a woman make your team fellas? Tell me, you think?’
McKennie appeared baffled by Trump’s line of questioning and looked to Weah for help before Manuel Locatelli broke a brief period of uncomfortable silence saying, ‘Yeah.’
‘You’re being nice,’ Trump said in response.
‘What do you think, think a woman could make the team? General managers, what do you think?’ Trump said, turning to some of the Juventus leadership.
‘We have a very good women’s team,’ general manager Damien Comolli said to Trump.
In typically cutting fashion, Trump responded with: ‘You do have it, but they should be playing with women. It’s one of those things. See, they’re very diplomatic.’
Trump signed the controversial and hugely divisive ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ executive order in February after campaigning heavily on the issue in 2024.
The order prompted the National Collegiate Athletic Association to change its gender eligibility policy to only permit biological females to compete in the women’s category.
Trump’s administration, meanwhile, has assured local Olympic officials it is committed to supporting the successful hosting of the Summer Games in 2028 and 2034 Winter Games, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said.
Trump issued a directive earlier this month banning citizens from 12 countries from entering the US as part of an immigration crackdown he said was needed to protect against ‘foreign terrorists’ and other security threats.
Athletes and their coaches and families are exempt from the travel ban, however, and Hirshland said the LA Games in 2028 and Salt Lake City Winter Olympics six years later were a chance for the United States to bring people of all backgrounds together.
‘It’s a great opportunity to welcome the world and to do it through the lens of sport,’ Hirshland said on a call with reporters.
‘We all believe that sport is a great unifier. It is a great environment to create common purpose, common values, to see great competition and sportsmanship.
‘And we have every assurance from the administration that they will be great partners in helping ensure that we are a great host country.’