Rabat – While in the US elected officials throw the first pitch on a baseball game, in Morocco, Nabila Mounib, secretary general of the United Socialist Party (PSU), threw herself in the eye of the storm during the December 10 march in support of the Palestinian cause in Rabat. Wearing a Yankees cap, the New York baseball team favored by Trump and a majority of Republicans, her fashion faux pas did not slip away from public attention.
With a Palestinian flag in hand and a keffiyeh around her neck, Mounib’s would have easily passed as one of the thousands who rallied in Rabat in condemnation of Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem, if it weren’t for the cap she wore.
“NY” boldly stamped on her red cap, the politician couldn’t have chosen a more inconvenient time to commit a politically incorrect fashion mishap, particularly that during the march, demonstrators stepped on American and Israeli flags.
Nabila Mounib arbore la casquette des NY Yankees… soutenus par Trump. pic.twitter.com/FtxAZ24BYN
— Hassan Bahajjoub (@HBahajjoub) December 12, 2017
Though Mounib explained that the initials “NY” refer to “Nabila and Youssef,” her husband’s first name, in an interview with febrayer.com, referring to the incident as a “ jabber that shouldn’t be given importance,” the most agreed upon implication of the initials suggests that they stand for the Republican-backed Yankees.
Not only that, in an article by Cheatsheet listing Trump’s favorites sports team, the Yankees topped the list. “His love for the team goes much deeper than that. It’s a love that, dare we say, is ‘Yuge’.”
I’m going to the @Yankees game tonight to root them on–they always win when I am there.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 12 octobre 2012
Mounib lack of knowledge of the political implications of American baseball could be condoned. However, it is her justification that unleashed social media commentary.
The General Secretary of the Unified Socialist Party (PSU) “Nabila Mounib” claims that the sign “NY” in New York Yankees hats, refers to her husband & her name ( Nabila and Youssed). It’s very embarrassing!!! pic.twitter.com/3JI6zbcTry
— Sailing (@SailingSkyG) December 11, 2017
#Nabila_Mounib est la typique gauchiste transaprente, bourgeoise bobo, venir en casquette rouge(symbole gauche) flanqué du symbole NY ?. Un politicien doit maîtriser la symbolique, mais Mme connait dans la symbolique que le rouge mais de la cause palestinienne, elle s’en fou.
— Imilchil? (@MoroccoImilchil) December 11, 2017
However, other social media users explain that Mouinb’s wardrobe malfunction does not necessarily imply that she supports Trump’s policies.
For journalist Rachid Belghiti, “wearing an American brand does not mean that Donald Trump’s policies are accepted. The White House is not a textile factory.”
