In a way, it is impossible to report on Donald Trump because at this stage nothing he can do is unexpected. Were a news story to crop up in your timeline reading 'Trump runs over entire petting zoo in a wheat-thresher, while laughing maniacally', you would simply sigh, utterly unsurprised, before continuing to scroll and inevitably watching some light-hearted video, perhaps about cats; they're usually about cats.
As such the news that he has rescinded an invitation for basketball player Stephen Curry to visit the White House is pretty much perfectly in character for Trump.
The entire Golden State Warriors team had been invited to visit the White House, having won two of the last three championships and being hotly tipped to win this current one. However it's understood that a lot of the team don't want to accept the invitation. It's reported that they're to meet over the coming days to decide whether to go or not. However it seems that their hesitance has irked Trump and he is chastened by the fact the didn't immediately jump at the opportunity to spend time in his company.
Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
It really kicked up to the next level however when Lebron James amazingly waded into the mix.
U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
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When Stephen Curry had been asked about the invitation yesterday he was quoted by the USA Today as saying:
“I don’t want to go,” Curry reiterated. “That’s kind of the nucleus of my belief…(But) it’s not just me going to the White House. If it was, this would be a pretty short conversation.”
When asked why he wants to skip the visit and what the intended message would be, Curry elaborated.
“That we don’t stand for basically what our President has – the things that he’s said and the things that he hasn’t said in the right times, that we won’t stand for it,” Curry said. “And by acting and not going, hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to. It’s not just the act of not going there. There are things you have to do on the back end to actually push that message into motion.
“(Athletes are) all trying to do what we can. We’re using our platforms, using our opportunities to shed light on that, so that’s kind of where I stand on it. I don’t think us not going to the White House is going to miraculously make everything better, but this is my opportunity to voice that.”
Well it seems that what was shaping up to be a biblically awkward opportunity for press photos has been avoided. Probably for the best all round.
