Megan Rapinoe had a classy response to all the people calling her 'un-American'

Megan Rapinoe has responded to critics who claim she's 'un-American' in the only way Megan Rapinoe can.

Speaking a day after watching the Women's World Cup from the sidelines, Ms Rapinoe delivered an impassioned defence of her comments about politics and patriotism, reports the Washington Post.

Speaking to gathered reporters outside the US national team hotel, Ms Rapinoe responded to criticism about not singing the national anthem before and after matches, as well as saying she wouldn't visit the White House if her team won the Women's World Cup.

When a reporter asked if her behaviour was 'un-American', she said:

I’m particularly and uniquely and very deeply American.

If we want to talk about the ideals we stand for, the song and the anthem and what we are founded on, I think I am extremely American.

For the detractors, I would have them look hard into what I am actually saying, the actions I am doing.

Maybe you don’t agree with every single way I do it, and that can be discussed. I know I am not perfect.

The star became embroiled in the centre of controversy when a video resurfaced of her saying she's 'not going to the f****** White House' if her team wins the Women's World Cup.

In response, Trump slammed the soccer star on Twitter, however, she simply repeated her criticisms of the president, who she's called a 'racist' and a 'misogynist'. However, she was undeterred and doubled down on her criticisms:

I think I stand for honesty and for truth and for wanting to have the conversation.

Looking at the country honestly and saying, ‘Yes, we are a great country, and there are many things that are so amazing, and I feel very fortunate to be in this country.’

I would never be able to do this in a lot of other places. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get better. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t always thrive to be better.

She also added that while she thinks that the country is founded on many great ideals, she was critical of the States' link to slavery:

This country was founded on a lot of good ideals, but it was also founded on slavery. We just need to be really honest about that and be really open about talking about that . . . so we can reconcile that and hopefully move forward and make this country better for everyone.

Rapinoe has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration for some time. In 2016, she began taking a knee during the national anthem in order to show her solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, who used the gesture as a way to protest racism and police brutality in America.

During 2019's Women's World Cup, she refused to sing the national anthem and didn't put her hand over her heart, reports the Huffington Post.

HT Huffington Post

More: Megan Rapinoe doubles down on Trump comments but apologises for swearing as it would upset her mum

More: Piers Morgan loses £800 bet after England beaten by USA in Women's World Cup