Real Madrid: Mbappé and China, the United States get involved

The US weighs in on the Mbappé affair

Europe Today at 09:13

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Real Madrid: Mbappé and China, the United States get involved

The controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappé and China has taken a new turn. Donald Trump's United States has reacted.

In a statement published by the Select Committee on China, Republican Michigan Representative John Moolenaar defended the Real Madrid forward. “International soccer star Kylian Mbappé should not apologize for calling Mao Zedong a dictator. Mao was a dictator, and by far caused more harm to the Chinese people than any comment by a soccer player ever could,” he said.

John Moolenaar subsequently recalled the Chinese leader's deadly record. He stated that: “his dictatorship and disastrous policies killed tens of millions of Chinese people during the Cultural Revolution, the Great Famine and other atrocities.”

John Moolenaar settles scores through Mbappé

The American lawmaker continued his indictment by denouncing the restrictions imposed on fundamental freedoms in China. “For decades, the CCP has denied the Chinese people basic human rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion. These are rights enjoyed by Mbappé as well as millions of people around the world, and Mbappé should seize this opportunity to expose the horrible truth about Mao's dictatorship,” he said.

🚨 Les contrats de Kylian Mbappé 🇫🇷 avec la Chine 🇨🇳 expiraient en février et mars, ET ILS AURAIENT SANS DOUTE ÉTÉ RENOUVELÉS sans la polémique. Les ventes de Dongpeng ont grimpé de plus de 15 % au premier semestre 2026 dans un marché pourtant saturé. 😳 (@lequipe) https://t.co/mFzgdPziU7
— BeFootball (@_BeFootball) October 28, 2026

Regarding the companies that chose to distance themselves from Kylian Mbappé, John Moolenaar said: “The real shame in this story is the companies rushing to apologize so they can continue doing business in China. The CCP is the greatest oppressor of the Chinese people and their human rights, and these companies that collaborate with the CCP are helping to normalize its overwhelming brutality.”

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Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.