15 Athletes who denied an invitation to Visit White House

Many athletes skipped White House visits, choosing personal values and activism over tradition. This shows that sporting legends can also deliver to indirect political statements.

Rajat Srivastava
October 3, 2025
6 min read

15 Athletes who denied an invitation to Visit White House — Imagn Images

Over the years, several athletes and teams have turned down White House invitations, often giving political, personal or social reasons. From legends like Michael Jordan, Bill Russell and Larry Bird to modern stars such as LeBron James, Steph Curry and Megan Rapinoe, their choices reflected more than sports. They symbolized values, beliefs, and activism through their actions. These refusals highlight how championship celebrations can become powerful platforms for athletes to express their ideological beliefs.

15. The Golden State Warriors (NBA)

After winning the 2017 NBA Championship, the Golden State Warriors collectively declined the White House invitation. Led by players like Steph Curry and supported by their coach Steve Kerr, the team emphasized unity and a desire to use their influence for social issues. Their refusal was highly controversial, as it wasn’t just one athlete but an entire championship team opting out of the traditional visit.

14. James Harrison (NFL)

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison declined White House visits multiple times. His reasoning was simple that he felt attendance should be about true honor and respect. It should not be about politics or for media headlines. Harrison straight forward explanation reflected his tough, uncompromising personality.

13. Larry Bird (NBA)

Larry Bird, after leading the Celtics to the 1984 NBA championship, did not attend the White House celebration. Known for his no-nonsense approach, Bird felt that the ceremonial appearances are redundant. He famously said that “If the President wants to see me, he knows where to find me”. His strong rejection showed his focus was always more on basketball itself than political or symbolic gestures off the court.

12. Megan Rapinoe (Soccer)

Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Megan Rapinoe, the superstar of the U.S. Women’s National Team, made headlines by firmly stating she wouldn’t visit the White House after the 2019 World Cup. She is very well known for her outspoken stance on equality and LGBTQ+ rights. Rapinoe further said that the team’s values didn’t align with the Trump administration. Her refusal became controversial, as she was appreciated by some people and criticized by others.

11. Matt Birk (NFL)

Birk won the Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013. Post the victory, the team was invited to the White House. Birk declined, citing his disagreement with President Obama’s stance on Planned Parenthood. His decision was not about football but about personal beliefs, making him one of the few players to publicly skip the honor for political reasons.

10. Malcolm Jenkins (NFL)

Malcolm Jenkins, one of the NFL’s most socially active players, also refused the White House invitations. A leader for both the Patriots and Eagles, Jenkins focused heavily on activism around criminal justice reform. His refusal to visit underlined his belief that symbolic appearances matter less than making real changes in the communities through activism and action.

9. Devin McCourty (NFL)

Patriots safety Devin McCourty turned down the 2017 White House visit, explaining that he didn’t feel welcome under the Trump administration. McCourty has long been vocal on issues of racial justice and police reform, and his decision reinforced those beliefs. By skipping the visit, he emphasized that attending should mean more than just a photo as it should align with his personal values and celebrate diversity.

8. Martellus Bennett (NFL)

Martellus Bennett, tight end for the New England Patriots, refused the White House invitation after the team’s 2017 Super Bowl win. Bennett was outspoken about political differences with the President Donald Trump and said attending was against his values. His refusal was one of the earliest high profile rejections during Trump’s presidency, encouraging more athletes to voice their opinions about mixing sports celebrations with politics.

7. Chris Long (NFL)

Chris Long, the defensive player for the Philadelphia Eagles, firmly declined the White House invitations in both 2017 and 2018. Long’s stance on social and racial justice was his reason for the refusal. His decision highlighted the growing movement amongst the athletes to use their voice for social change rather than symbolic appearances, thus cementing his place as one of the NFL’s outspoken voice for equality.

6. Patrick Mahomes (NFL)

Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, has been cautious about politics and has hesitated of visiting White House. Following the Chiefs’ 2020 Super Bowl win, the team took a collective approach, with many players unwilling to attend. Mahomes himself has emphasized unity and inclusivity. Till Now, he has been fairly successful in balancing sports success and political symbolism.

5. Bill Russell (NBA)

Bill Russell, the Boston Celtics legend and civil rights activist, declined a White House visit during his playing days. For Russell, it was a matter of principle as he was vocal about the racial inequality and lack of respect shown towards the Black athletes in USA. By refusing the invitation, he reinforced his legacy as not just a champion on the court but also a leader of social justice movements.

4. Michael Jordan (NBA)

In 1991, after winning his first championship title with the Bulls, Michael Jordan chose not to attend the White House celebration. Instead, he spent his time in private activities, famously playing golf. While Jordan has often been apolitical compared to his contemporaries, this absence stood out at the time. As it showed that even legendary athletes sometimes choose personal priorities over political ceremonies.

3. Steph Curry (NBA)

When the Golden State Warriors won the 2017 NBA Championship, Steph Curry declined the White House invitation. His decision prompted the President Donald Trump to withdraw the entire team’s invite, giving national headlines. Curry’s choice wasn’t just personal as it reflected the views of many of his teammates who wanted to use their stardom to stand for issues like equality and unity rather than participate in political photo sessions.

2. LeBron James (NBA)

LeBron James has been one of the most outspoken athletes on social and political issues. After championship wins with the Cavaliers and later the Lakers, he made it clear that he wouldn’t attend White House visits under Donald Trump. LeBron used his platform to highlight racial and social justice, turning his refusal into a strong statement about athlete activism and his responsibility as a sporting legend.

1. Tom Brady (NFL)

Tom Brady, the New England Patriots’ legendary quarterback, skipped White House visits after multiple Super Bowl wins. While he gave personal reasons, his absences drew a lot of speculations about political disagreements. As one of the NFL’s biggest stars, his choice started debates about the tradition itself and whether players should attend such ceremonies, especially when they don’t align with the values of a sitting President.