March Madness: President Biden appears to be closing the door on the idea of inviting Iowa to the White House
President Biden appears to be closing the door on the First Lady’s idea of inviting the Iowa women’s March Madness runner-up to the White House…after LSU’s Angel Reese called the suggestion a “JOKE”
President Joe Biden said Tuesday he looks forward to hosting the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball teams, the University of Connecticut and Louisiana State University, at the White House. , which also invites the defeated Iowa women’s team.
President Biden tweeted Tuesday that LSU and Connecticut “showed us the best of what this country can be.”
“We can all learn a lot from watching these champions,” the president said, “and I look forward to welcoming them to each of their visits to the White House.” He did not disclose dates and the comment suggests Iowa will not be invited.
After LSU’s victory, coach Kim Mulkey said she would go to the White House if the team, the Tigers, were invited. There was no immediate comment from Connecticut, but the team has made the journey to the White House after winning the NCAA title game in previous years.
The first lady, who is a huge sports fan, watched LSU’s 102-85 win over Iowa from the stands at the Dallas arena on Sunday along with tennis great Billie Jean King and several college athletes.
Joe Biden said LSU and Connecticut ‘showed us the best of what this country can be’
First Lady Jill Biden said both teams should go to the White House in the women’s final
During a performance Monday in Denver with Colorado lawmakers, Jill Biden praised Iowa’s sportsmanship and congratulated both teams on their performance. She pointed to the White House’s long-standing tradition of celebrating sports teams — and added a twist.
“I know we will bring the champions to the White House, we always do. So we hope that LSU will come,” she said. “But you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come too, because they played such a good game.”
The suggestion was not well received. LSU star Angel Reese, who was honored as Most Outstanding Player, tweeted Monday a link to a story about Jill Biden’s comments. “A JOKE,” Reese wrote, along with three crying and laughing emojis.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith also objected to the idea of Iowa being invited.
That’s a bad proposition. Runner-ups are not invited to the White House. Why are we trying to change it now? I totally agree with you, Angel,” he said in response to Reese’s tweet.
Even Iowa star Caitlin Clark shot down the idea.
“I don’t think runners usually go to the White House,” she said on ESPN’s Outside the Lines. “I think LSU should enjoy that moment for them.”
Angel Reese called the idea of Iowa running for the White House a ‘JOKE’
Caitlin Clark couldn’t get Iowa over the final hurdle but had a great tournament
Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesperson for Jill Biden, said the first lady was excited by watching the women’s game and that she meant disrespect to LSU by proposing a White House invitation to Iowa.
“Her comments in Colorado were meant to applaud the historic game and all female athletes,” Valdivia tweeted Tuesday. “She’s looking forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.”
During her remarks in Colorado, the first lady also spoke about how American women have excelled in athletics since Title IX in 1972 gave women equal rights in sports in schools that receive federal funding.
“It was so exciting, wasn’t it?” she asked Monday. “It was such a great match. I’m old enough to remember when we got Title IX. We fought so hard, right? We fought so hard. And look where women’s sport is today.’