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Don’t expect at least one Olympic gold medalist in Washington, DC anytime soon.
After being asked about Olympians not accepting invitations to the White House, the 2026 Olympic gold medalist told Us Weekly that she would decline an invitation if she received one.
“I choose not to either, so I don’t blame them at all,” Glenn told the paper. “It’s our right to be able to choose what we do and don’t support, and I think that’s a decision that each individual has the right to make.”
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Team USA’s Amber Glenn celebrates with her gold medal after the figure skating team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. US Figure Skating referred inquiries to the White House.
While the men’s hockey team went to the White House and the State of the Union last month, the women’s hockey team declined President Donald Trump’s invitation, citing scheduling conflicts. Trump announced in the State of the Union, but they will eventually visit.
Trump’s invitation came after he blurted out during a phone call with the men’s team shortly after they won gold, saying he would “have to” invite the women’s team or he would “probably be impeached.” The ghost got some laughs from the men, causing backlash for everyone involved.
Several athletes and apparently teams have declined to visit Trump after winning titles dating back to his first presidency. After winning the 2018 World Series as manager of the Boston Red Sox, Alex Cora skipped the 2019 White House visit to prioritize Puerto Rico, citing dissatisfaction with the federal government’s response to Hurricane Maria’s devastation. Mookie Betts also skipped this year’s celebration, but attended the Los Angeles Dodgers’ party last year.
Amber Glenn of the United States reacts after her performance during the short program on February 17, 2026. (REUTERS/Yara Nardi)
The Dodgers, Philadelphia Eagles, Florida Panthers, Ohio State football team, LSU baseball team and Inter Miami have all visited the White House to celebrate their championships since Trump’s second term began in January 2025. It remains to be seen whether the Indiana Hoosiers and Seattle Seahawks will follow suit. Given the fact that no NBA team has ever visited Trump, it seems unlikely that the Oklahoma City Thunder will.
Last year, the Florida Gators were the first college basketball team to visit Trump since the women’s Baylor team in 2019. They are the only college basketball teams team to visit Trump in both terms, while every college football champion with Trump as president has visited him.
Despite no NBA team visiting the White House under Trump, the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics each visited former President Joe Biden to celebrate their titles.
Gold medalist Amber Glenn of the United States poses with the medal during the medal ceremony during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final – Grenoble at Patinoire Polesud, December 7, 2024, in Grenoble, France. (Daniela Porcelli – International Skating Union/International Skating Union)
Trump withdrew an invitation to the Warriors’ 2017 title game after Stephen Curry said he would not make the trip. LeBron James then called Trump a “bum” and said, “Going to the White House was a great honor until you showed up!”
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