White House walks back proposal to invite LSU and Iowa for NCAA Championship celebration

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – The LSU Tigers will be invited to celebrate their NCAA Championship victory at the White House solo.

On Monday, First Lady Jill Biden said, “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.”

The backlash came quickly from LSU team members, officials and other sports fans.

Vanessa Valdivia, the press secretary to the first lady and special assistant to the president, said Tuesday, “Her comments in Colorado were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.”

See responses to Biden’s Monday comments

Angel Reese tweeted that is was “A JOKE” and added three rolling-on-floor-laughing emojis.

Alexis Morris wondered if maybe the team could celebrate at a different place. Reese’s teammate tweeted, “Michelle OBAMA can we (LSU NATIONAL CHAMPS) come celebrate our win at your house?”

Congressman Troy Carter had this to say about the possibility of both teams coming to the White House.

“​Louisiana State University’s Women’s Basketball team won the 2023 NCAA Basketball championship and should enjoy their historic victory singularly.

​“With no disrespect to the outstanding players from Iowa, they did not win. The exceptional Louisiana Tigers are the indisputable winners of the championship, and this win is theirs and theirs alone. An invitation to the Iowa team would be at the expense of our Louisiana athletes. I know the First Lady meant no harm by commenting that the University of Iowa should also be invited to the White House, but her remark was an unintentional slight to the ladies of LSU and the citizens of Louisiana. I am respectfully requesting that these Louisiana champions enjoy the winner’s circle alone.”