President Trump weighed in Monday on the plight of Iran’s national women’s soccer team, who were caught up in the geopolitical ramifications of the U.S.-Israeli war on their home country as they participated in the women’s Asian Cup in Australia, offering them asylum in the U.S.
There were calls for Australia to offer the women refuge after Iranian television branded them “traitors” over the weekend, following their decision not to sing or salute during the Iranian national anthem ahead of their first match in the tournament. They did sing and salute ahead of subsequent games, drawing speculation that their team’s leaders were coercing them.
“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM,” President Trump said in a social media post, adding: “The U.S. will take them if you won’t.”
He posted his message as a prominent Iranian opposition figure in exile, and an Australian newspaper, said five of the team’s players had fled their hotel in Gold Coast and were being assisted by Australian police, and that they were expected to apply for asylum.
“Most of them have families back home, some of them have children back home, and even if offered the right to remain in Australia, if they feel unsafe, many of them may not accept that opportunity,” Craig Foster, a former captain of the Australian men’s soccer team and a human rights advocate, told CBS News partner network BBC News earlier. “What’s most important is that that offer is made.”
Australia’s government did not immediately reply to a CBS News request for confirmation that any of the women had applied for asylum.