Trump said the US women's soccer team lost to Sweden in the Olympics because of 'wokeism'

• The US women's soccer team lost to Sweden in an Olympic match last week.
• Donald Trump used the loss as an example of why "wokeism" is bad for America at a rally Saturday.
• Trump could be referring to certain players' activism.

Donald Trump thinks he has an explanation for the US women's soccer team's puzzling loss to Sweden at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday.

The former president spoke at the "Rally to Protect Our Elections" in Phoenix on Saturday and blamed the team's loss on "wokeism."

"Wokeism makes you lose, ruins your mind, and ruins you as a person. You become warped. You become demented. The US women's soccer team is a very good example of what's going on," Trump said. "Earlier this week they unexpectedly lost to Sweden, 3-0, and Americans were happy about it."

Wokeism seems to be Trump's play on the terms woke or wokeness, which indicate awareness of racial prejudice and discrimination.

Trump has repeatedly opposed awareness for such issues in the past, especially in sports. He's referred to NFL players who knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality against the Black community as "sons of b----es" in November 2017. In September 2020, he blamed the NBA's declining ratings on Black Lives Matter messaging that was printed on the court and players' uniforms.

This time around, Trump figures to be taking aim at the political leaning and activism of certain women's soccer players on Team USA.

All 11 of the team's starters kneeled for 10 seconds before the game on Wednesday to protest racial injustice and inequality.

But the most prominent figure Trump seems to be talking about is the 36-year-old midfielder Megan Rapinoe.

"We have people from Team USA, from all over the country, from all backgrounds, and people literally from all over the world for every other team," Rapinoe said, according to The Associated Press. "So I obviously encourage everyone to use that platform to the best of their ability to do the most good that they possibly can in the world, especially as all eyes are on Tokyo these next couple weeks.."

Rapinoe is one of the highest-profile social activists in American sports. She was one of the first athletes to stand in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick by kneeling during the national anthem before an NWSL game in September 2016. She is also an advocate for numerous LGBT organizations, including the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network and even has her own gender-neutral clothing brand.

After the loss to Sweden, Team USA bounced back to defeat New Zealand 6-1 and will look to keep its momentum going on Tuesday against Australia.

Meanwhile, Trump encouraged his crowd on Saturday to boo the American women's soccer team during its Olympic run in the coming days.