The New York Knicks waited 53 years for an NBA championship. They finally secured it with a 4-1 series victory over the San Antonio Spurs earlier this month, bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to the Big Apple for the first time since 1973.
Generations of fans lived and died without seeing the franchise lift another trophy. Entire careers came and went. Seasons collapsed. Hope disappeared. Yet somehow, within days of one of the greatest moments in Knicks’ history, the national conversation shifted from celebrating a championship to condemning a White House visit.
Why? Because Donald Trump is president.
Knicks owner James Dolan recently announced that the team accepted an invitation to visit the White House. The outrage from many corners of the media and social media was immediate. Critics demanded players boycott the visit. Others attacked Dolan personally. Some hoped the team would reverse course and reject the invitation altogether.
Notice that nobody is arguing that championship teams should never visit the White House. Nobody is arguing that presidents should stop recognizing athletic achievement. Nobody is arguing that this tradition, which has existed across Republican and Democrat administrations for decades, with teams visiting Presidents Reagan, Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Biden, is inherently inappropriate.
The objection is that the liberals who run sports media and most of the internet hate Trump, and therefore, the Knicks should too.
You can’t blame the left for trying – after all, they’ve successfully bullied every other NBA champion into declining a White House visit during Trump’s time in office. The Knicks are the first team to accept. The liberal meltdown reveals just how political the NBA has become.
For years, Americans were told that sports could serve as common ground. We were told athletics could unite people across political, racial, and ideological divides. Apparently, that idea expires the moment Donald Trump enters the picture.
When athletes take positions that align with progressive politics, they are often celebrated as courageous voices using their platforms for change. But when athletes interact with Trump—even something as simple as accepting a congratulatory phone call or attending a White House event—they are often subjected to intense scrutiny, backlash, and demands that they explain themselves.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart learned this lesson firsthand. After Dart introduced President Trump at a rally in New York, he became the subject of a vicious smear campaign. The same media that eagerly turns a blind eye to domestic violence and other criminal activity among NFL players was appalled that Dart would commit the unforgivable sin of liking a president whom 77 million Americans voted for.
The left even targeted the gold medal-winning U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, who faced immense backlash over a phone call with the president after winning a historic championship match against Canada.
The message is clear: support for any progressive policy is fine, but even the slightest association with Donald Trump will not be tolerated.
The Milwaukee Bucks visited the Biden White House in 2021, along with the Golden State Warriors in 2023 and the Boston Celtics in 2024. Eight NBA teams visited the White House under President Barack Obama. Where was the outrage?
What makes this even more absurd is that Trump is not some random politician parachuting into New York sports culture. He is a native New Yorker. He has been associated with New York sports, media, and public life for decades. Whether one supports him or opposes him politically, pretending that his presence in a celebration involving New York’s most iconic basketball franchise is somehow shocking is absurd.
The real story here is not that the Knicks accepted a White House invitation; it’s how many people believe a White House visit is acceptable only when their preferred party occupies the Oval Office.
The Knicks earned a championship. They earned the right to celebrate it. They shouldn’t have to pass a political purity test to do so.
Paul Belmonte is a Law and Global Affairs student at the University at Buffalo with experience in state government and public policy.
How very true! And how very awesome that they accepted!
Great article this is a great arguing point
Very well written Paul.
Just shows how imbedded TDS has become in the tiny brains of the Leftists.
What would left like to see. few smashed store fronts, some looting and a few fires for the good measure? Stand with the brotherhood, don’t pay any attention to the WH, stand with the brothers for the justice, this lunacy exists because they are paid for it and we tolerate it.Cut the money, there will not be brotherhood.
Great article!
The left all have TDS. We all know if a socialist/democrat was president (thank you Lord that is not the case) there would be no problem. I’m proud of the Knicks for accepting the invite.
Great article. Good for the knicks!! I hope others teams will wake up and acknowledge it is all about celebrating their victories, not who is in the political office.
All very true, and a great explanation.
Congratulations Knicks – from a Texan and a Trump Lover!!! We salute you! Hard won victory – Sorry Spurs, you gave it your best!
Great Article glad they accepted Trump’s invitation
You have to remember that this is the same media that’s condemning the SF Giants players wouldn’t cow-tow to the LQBT what ever crowd.
These deranged, holier-than-thou Leftist busybodies need to mind their own damned business. And someone should tell them that using much more colorful language than I used here.
Thanks for a great article. I can’t wrap my mind around this Insanity of the leftist. God Bless America and President Trump!
Thanks for a great article! I can’t wrap my mind around this Insanity! God Bless America and President Trump.????