Whoopi Goldberg has stepped into the spotlight with a surprising and impassioned plea for the New York Knicks: go to the White House.
The Knicks captured their first NBA title since 1973 by defeating the Spurs in five games in the 2026 NBA Finals. With the championship parade set for Thursday in downtown New York, the team now faces a politically charged decision—whether to accept an invitation from President Donald Trump to visit the White House.
Goldberg, known for her outspoken views on The View, urged all Knicks players to attend, framing the visit as a powerful statement of resilience and unity. “I want all those Black men to stand in our house and remind all of those people… that when you try to destroy one part of history, you’re destroying all of our histories,” she said. “And they, as champions… [can say], ‘This is what this looks like.’ So I want them to go… If only so the kids know that nobody, nobody can keep you down.”
Her comments come as the team navigates the delicate intersection of sports and politics. Co-host Sara Haines expressed concern that the players are being placed in an unfair position. “This puts the players in a really precarious position,” she said, noting that owner James Dolan is a longtime friend of Trump’s. “Your boss, the owner of the team you play for, is extending this offer… I just think it’s not fair to take any of the flowers and the beauty of this moment and its unity and try to then place it on the player’s backs.”
Dolan has already confirmed that the team will accept the invitation. “We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” he told The Craig Carton Show. “I invited the president to come down for the game. He is a friend, I’ve known him for 30 years and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.”
The decision has sparked debate among fans and commentators. Some, like Boomer Esiason, have pushed for the team to go, while others have criticized the move. The controversy echoes recent tensions around pride night protests in minor league baseball and the broader cultural divide in sports.
Meanwhile, thousands of fans were left disappointed when they couldn’t attend the championship parade, as reported in the parade's logistical challenges. The team’s journey to the title was fueled by internal motivation, including Becky Hammon’s doubts that lit a fire under Jalen Brunson.
Goldberg’s plea adds a new layer to the conversation, urging the players to see the visit not as a political endorsement but as a moment to demonstrate strength and pride. “This is what this looks like,” she said. “Yeah, this is what this looks like.”
