Kevin Durant became the latest Warrior — joining Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala, and Shaun Livingston, that we know of — to say he would not visit President Donald Trump’s White House as NBA champion. Which is all kind of moot because it’s unlikely the White House invites them and outspoken Trump critic/Warriors coach Steve Kerr and his players any way. (The White House’s biggest concern should be that Kerr accepts the invitation and uses that platform to challenge the president’s policies and style in front of him.)
Durant’s comments led to plenty of talk on sports talk radio and around the sports world online about whether a player or team should decline an invitation from the president. It’s not a new debate, Tom Brady denied that politics is why he didn’t visit Barack Obama’s White House (although I’m not sure many believed him), but KD’s on a big stage now so it became a talking point.
Former ESPN reporter Britt McHenry questioned a player not visiting the White House, and Durant responded, leading to a little Twitter back-and-forth.
If issue (fairly) is divisiveness in the USA, then use celebrity & platform to come together. Great leaders meet, not shun invitations to WH
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) August 18, 2017
boo hoo. Sad story.....keep tellin me more 😴
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 18, 2017
Ok let's discuss how a successful man such as yourself can show unity meeting w/ WH just 20 min from PG County. Your presence can inspire https://t.co/nAcZfeJt07
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) August 18, 2017
Durant had previously Tweeted in response “by doing the opposite, I am inspiring more people” but that Tweet was deleted.
There is no one correct way to protest a person/policy/action, McHenry may see things differently, but Durant has chosen to stay away. That’s valid — traditionally these “champions to the White House” things are tedious photo ops with a few bad jokes thrown in. Having a hoops fan/player in Obama in the White House made the NBA visits more entertaining the past eight years, there was some trash talk, but still, they are largely just a public relations moment. If KD doesn’t want to play the PR game with Trump, that’s a legitimate response.
This has all been a tempest in a teapot. Until/unless the White House actually invites the Warriors to come, it’s all kind of moot.