Whoopi Goldberg surprised some viewers by arguing that Knicks players should go to Donald Trump’s White House, but her reasons had nothing to do with politics as usual.
The conversation came up on The View after New York secured its first NBA title since 1973. With the Knicks expected to receive the traditional White House invitation, Goldberg said she wanted the players to attend and turn the moment into something symbolic.
White House visits under Trump have repeatedly split championship teams, making Goldberg’s call for the Knicks to attend more complicated than a routine invitation.
Why Whoopi Goldberg wants Knicks to visit the White House
The moment was shared by The View as Goldberg explained her thinking.
Goldberg said: “I want them to go. I want all those Black men to stand in our house and remind all of those people, as we tried to remind the vice president, that when you try to destroy one part of history, you’re destroying all of our histories.”
She also framed the visit as a message to younger fans: “And they, as champions, not only as amazing basketball players, but as people who were down and came back up, [can say], ‘This is what this looks like. Yeah, this is what this looks like.’ So I want them to go, I want them to go. If only so the kids know that nobody, nobody can keep you down.”
Goldberg’s point was that the White House belongs to the country, not just the president currently occupying it.
Knicks title makes White House debate bigger than ceremony
James Dolan is reportedly in favor of the visit.
The Knicks earned that invitation by beating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to close the series 4-1. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in the clincher and was named unanimous Finals MVP.
Goldberg had already been part of the title conversation, with Brunson appearing on The View after the championship to discuss the run and how he stayed calm under pressure.
That made her White House argument more pointed. She was not asking the Knicks to endorse Trump. She was saying champions can use that space to send their own message.
For a team that ended a 53-year drought, the visit would never be just another photo-op. Goldberg thinks it could mean something more.
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