SerpApi.Org
Sports teams that refuse invitations from the White House aren’t making a statement—they’re disrespecting the presidency.
That’s the message UFC president Dana White shared while he was defending his friend President Donald Trump, and argued that these events at the White House should be about honoring the presidency rather than the person holding office.
White spoke on The Pivot Podcast, White said he never understood why some teams have turned down invites during Trump’s presidency, adding that it was also true during former President Joe Biden’s time.
Dana White says the White House should be bigger than politics
White talked about why championship teams have skipped traditional White House events over the years. “I don’t understand these teams that didn’t want to go to the White House. It is not about politics,” White said.
Even though White has long been one of Trump’s closest friendss, he insisted that his view isn’t based on friendship.
“It happened during the Biden administration, they say, ‘He’s not my President,'” White continued. “I have some bad news for you—if he is the President of the United States, he is your president.”
White argued that Americans cannot be expected to agree with every decision made by a president but that they should still respect the office itself.
“I respect the position, no matter who it is,” he said. “You’re never going to agree with 100 percent of a president’s politics, but the majority of Americans in this country voted this person into office.”
Trump has a complicated history with championship teams
White’s comments are about a trend over the last few years where sports teams choose not to visit the White House, especially during Trump’s two terms.
The Golden State Warriors never visited the White House after they won the NBA championships during his first term. Before the first planned visit, star guard Stephen Curry questioned attending, and this led to Trump withdrawing the invitation before the team reached a final decision.
The same thing happened with the Philadelphia Eagles after they won Super Bowl in 2018. Trump canceled the event after it became clear that only a small group of players planned to make the trip.
Other championship teams—including the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and the Toronto Raptors—also did not make the trip during Trump’s first term.
Even during his second presidency, some champions have chosen against visiting Washington, with the Oklahoma City Thunder saying that they had scheduling issue after they won the NBA title.
White says the tradition deserves respect
But it must also be said that not every championship team has skipped the tradition.
The New England Patriots visited the White House during Trump’s first administration, although some players chose not to attend. When the Eagles returned as Super Bowl champions in 2025, they accepted the invitation even though some players missed going.
White’s interview comes just weeks after he helped with the UFC’s Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn, showing just how close his relationship with Trump is.
White says that sports teams should respect the office itself, even when the president isn’t someone every athlete supports.
