Inter Miami’s upcoming visit to the White House to be received as winners of the 2025 MLS Cup is proving controversial.
It is unclear whether Lionel Messi will be present, according to reports. The ceremony is scheduled to occur at a tense time.
The White House Invitation: A Political Statement
The act of accepting the traditional White House invitation for a team that has won a major competition makes a statement. This bipartisan ritual is no longer a formality.
The decision of whether to visit the White House is a fraught political one for athletes. They are thrust into this conundrum by winning.
If players aren’t supporters of the current administration, they face a lose-lose situation. Attending could be seen as condoning the presidency, while refusing is akin to taking a stand against the government, inviting backlash.
Athletes’ Difficult Decisions
Athletes who do not support Donald Trump must make a difficult decision about visiting the White House. Going to the White House would condone what some see as a lawless presidency.
Refusing to attend would position them as anti-Trump public figures. This would invite hubbub, backlash, and threats.
Precedent Set by Other Teams
The Olympic men’s hockey team recently visited the White House, although five of the team’s players chose to stay away. The president’s interaction with the team reportedly vaporized the goodwill that team had earned with its gold medal.
The women’s hockey team did not attend after Trump made a sexist joke about them to the men’s team. He suggested that he was only inviting them because of woke, or something.
The Golden State Warriors visited the White House before and after the first Trump presidency. They visited during the administrations of Obama and Joe Biden, but didn’t go while the 45th president was in office, despite winning the NBA championship twice during that time.
Rapinoe’s Stance
Megan Rapinoe stated before the 2019 Women’s World Cup that she would not go to the White House. The women’s team did not visit the White House after winning the World Cup. They had visited President Barack Obama after their victory in 2015.
It should be noted that they also weren’t invited by Trump.
Whether Lionel Messi joins Inter Miami or not, the White House visit carries significant weight.