Jill Biden’s team walks back invitation for NCAA runners-up after ridicule
Luke Gentile
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First lady Jill Biden’s press team was forced to walk back an apparent White House invitation for the NCAA women’s basketball runner-up the University of Iowa on Tuesday following a wave of online ridicule.
“Last night, I attended the NCAA women’s basketball championship,” Biden said Monday. “So, I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House, we always do. So, we hope LSU will come, but, you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come, too, because they played such a good game.”
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“Winners and losers, that’s sportsmanship,” according to the first lady. “That’s good sportsmanship.”
Her suggestion was immediately bashed and ridiculed on social media.
It has long been a tradition to invite champions to the White House, not runners-up, and LSU women’s basketball star and recently crowned champion Angel Reese called Biden’s suggestion “A JOKE.”
“WE NOT COMING. period,” Reese added in an Instagram comment.
Reese’s sentiment was shared across social media.
“Hey, @Reese10Angel, I mean absolutely zero disrespect to the First Lady, but you are 1000% correct,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith tweeted.
“That is a bad suggestion. Runner-ups don’t get invited to the White House. Why are we trying to change it now? I completely agree with you, Angel.”
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Following the ridicule, the first lady’s media team worked to walk back the comment Tuesday.
Biden’s comments “were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes,” Biden’s press secretary Vanessa Valdivia. “She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.”