President Trump is getting the cold shoulder from some Olympians this year Photos: Twitter
The White House has sent out its usual invitations to returning Olympians this week but according to reports, there will be some notable absences. Skiers Gus Kenworthy, Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn have voiced their displeasure with the current administration. So has figure skater Adam Rippon. None will be there.
Shaun White and Chloe Kim have said they both have weddings to attend, avoiding any controversy. President Trump’s often divisive rhetoric and behavior have been so polarizing over the first year of his presidency that many athletes–even in the mainstream realm–have declined to visit the White House following championship runs. Trump has even rescinded invitations as he did with the Golden State Warriors, last year’s NBA Champs.
“The things that Trump has done during his campaign and since he’s been in office that so intensely go against the things that I believe in, I have no desire to go and shake his hand,” noted Kenworthy late last year.
Said Vonn during a CNN interview: “I want to represent our country well. I don’t think that there are a lot of people currently in our government that do that.”
One writer who’s covered these White House ceremonies for years said she’d, “never seen this many Olympians bailing out on meeting the President of the United States just two months after the Games.” Another publication counted more than 60 U.S. team members that will be absent for one reason or another. There still will be some 200 athletes in attendance including the entire U.S. women’s hockey team and gold medalist Red Gerard.
