asylum

Trump Supports Asylum for Iranian Women's Soccer Team. His Immigration Policy Doesn't.

The president's advocacy is laudable, yet completely at odds with everything else he has said on the subject.

Joe Lancaster | 3.9.2026 5:04 PM

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This week, President Donald Trump advocated on behalf of asylum seekers—though only in one very specific situation.

Before an Asian Cup match in Australia, Iran's women's soccer team declined to sing their country's national anthem, though they "sang the anthem and saluted in later matches," according to Bloomberg.

Supporters of the Iranian regime called for reprisal. "This is the pinnacle of dishonour and lack of patriotism," said Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, a presenter on Iranian state TV, according to The Athletic. "Both the people and the officials should treat these individuals as wartime traitors, not as if they just had a protest or performed a symbolic act. The stigma of dishonour and betrayal must remain on their foreheads, and separately they must be dealt with properly."

The New York Post reported that after playing their final match and facing a return trip home, some of the players "appeared to flash a 'help' hand signal" to the press.

Thankfully, their story so far has a happy ending: CNN reported Monday that five members........

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