Jalen Brunson on Knicks White House Visit Plans

Jalen Brunson shares insights on Knicks’ potential White House visit, addressing team discussions and invitations from President Trump.

The New York Knicks have yet to discuss their potential visit to the White House, according to Finals MVP Jalen Brunson. This revelation comes a month after team owner James Dolan stated that the franchise had accepted an invitation to commemorate their NBA championship. “That’s something that we actually haven’t discussed as a team,” Brunson remarked in a recent interview. “And so obviously people are making assumptions and saying everything, but together we haven’t discussed it yet, and so we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Dolan’s initial announcement was made during a June 17 interview on WFAN radio, explaining, “We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted. We still have to figure out the details.” If the Knicks do ultimately make the trip, they would become the first NBA champions to visit while Donald Trump holds presidency.

In contrast, last year’s champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, opted not to visit the White House, citing a “timing issue.” The previous champions—the Milwaukee Bucks (2021), Golden State Warriors (2022), and Boston Celtics (2024)—made their visits during President Joe Biden’s tenure. Notably, during Trump’s first term, the Warriors declined the invitation following their win in 2017, after Stephen Curry expressed his disinterest.

In a recent statement, the White House confirmed that they had indeed communicated with the Knicks and expressed eagerness to host the team at a date still to be confirmed. Dolan extended an invitation to Trump for Game 3 of the NBA Finals and previously allowed Trump to use Madison Square Garden for a campaign rally in the 2024 electoral cycle. Dolan remarked during the WFAN interview, “He is a friend. I’ve known him for 30 years. And I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.”