The American left has a favorite player
Article excerpt
Timothy Weah, the U.S. men's national team's left winger, has become a political celebrity among progressive Democrats. The soccer star was photographed with New York state senator Zohran Mamdani, earned a mention from Hillary Clinton, and publicly dismissed Donald Trump, an unusual intersection of sports and left-wing politics. Weah's rise as both an athlete and a political figure reflects how younger voters are seeking cultural figures who align with their values beyond their primary field.
INGLEWOOD, Calif., Timothy Weah wasn’t among the eleven Americans who took the field at the start of Friday’s match against Paraguay. But he may already be the American left’s favorite player.
In the run-up to the World Cup, the Olympique de Marseille winger has appeared at an event with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and echoed Democrats’ “affordability” messaging in his critique of FIFA’s ticket prices, earning a rebuke from Coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Hours before kickoff on Friday, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton showcased only Weah, the New York-born son of Liberian president George Weah, in a social-media post saluting the men’s national team.
“I'm looking forward to seeing the USMNT represent us in this World Cup,” wrote Clinton, accompanied by an image of Weah on the ball.
Last year, at an Oval Office photo op with his then-club team Juventus, Weah was among a group of players who stood behind President Donald Trump as he floated a possible military attack on Iran.
““It was all a surprise to me, honestly, they told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go,” Weah later told journalists of the White House visit. “I was caught by surprise, honestly. It was a bit weird. When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it’s kind of like, I just want to play football, man.”