The 2018 NBA champions took full advantage of their only scheduled trip to the nation’s capital Thursday by meeting with some of the most important leaders in American politics, which absolutely did not include President Donald Trump. Instead, the Golden State Warriors opted to meet with America’s Favorite President, Barack Obama, ahead of their game with the Washington Wizards.
Looks like the Warriors paid a visit to President Barack Obama during their visit to Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/D5PSwjc3Gl
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) January 25, 2019
After beating the Wizards 126-118, members of the Warriors also kicked it with some Bay Area heroes: Reps. Barbara Lee and Eric Smalwell, in addition to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Stephen Curry chatting postgame with Nancy Pelosi. “Continued luck and success making this country better,” he told her. pic.twitter.com/4JBM0R4E0Z
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) January 25, 2019
Both congresswomen invited the team to D.C. last June, despite their beef with the man who wasn’t yet universally known as Individual-1.
Bay Area Reps Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Lee invite @SteveKerr and the @Warriors to the Capitol after they make clear they won’t go to the White House. pic.twitter.com/XFI7Zu58dF
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 12, 2018
The Warriors, based in Oakland, Calif., are just the kind of basketball team that Mr. “I don’t like losers” Trump should love. Of course, the NBA champions, hailing from the forever blue Bay Area in the perennially blue California, have declared their disgust for the current occupant of the Oval Office in previous years, by adamantly refusing to meet with him, upending the longstanding tradition of a White House trip for winners of national championships. Who can forget this amazing presidential display?
Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
Vocal Trump critic LeBron James—whose Cleveland Cavaliers actually lost to the Warriors in a brutal near-sweep that still hurts this Cleveland native’s heart—defended his rivals’ choice in a most concise way.
U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
While it’s no secret that team members met with Pelosi outside of the locker room, the Golden State folks are staying quite close-lipped about the visit with Obama, according to The Mercury News.
The meeting was revealed via a picture posted by a team official on Instagram Thursday afternoon — a post that has since been deleted.
[…]
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr declined to comment on the meeting […].
“That’s private,” Kerr said. “Appreciate the question. Doesn’t mean I have to answer it.”
Like Kerr, many Warriors’ players didn’t expound on the visit, opting to keep details of the meeting under wraps.
“It was good,” said forward Draymond Green. “Private team meeting and team event.”
Last year, the team opted to visit the National Museum of African-American History and Culture instead of the White House. This year, that wasn’t an option, since the museum was closed due to the Trump shutdown.
I would like to meet President Obama and Speaker Pelosi.