Stephen Curry, Golden State React To Trump Rescinding White House Invitation

President Donald Trump took to Twitter Saturday to tell Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry he wasn’t invited to the White House, catching Curry by surprise.

“It’s surreal, to be honest … I don’t know why he feels the need to target certain individuals, rather than others,” said Curry after Warriors practice Saturday. “I have an idea of why, but it’s kind of beneath a leader of a country to go that route. That’s not what leaders do.”

Curry’s Warriors won the NBA championship last season, and it’s tradition for the president to host championship winning sports teams to the White House. Curry indicated on Friday that he had reticence about going to the White House if they were invited. Trump had not yet formally invited the Warriors. After Curry’s remarks, Trump showed that he was upset on Twitter.

“Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!,” wrote Trump Saturday.

Curry said that Trump’s remarks bolstered his position.

“My stance is the same as it was [Friday]. And even kind of cemented even further about how things in our country are going, especially with [Trump] representing us in a very damaging way,” said Curry.

The team released a statement after Trump’s tweet.

“In lieu of a visit to the White House, we have decided that we’ll constructively use our trip to the nation’s capital in February to celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion — the values that we embrace as an organization,” read the statement. “We accept that President Trump has made it clear that we are not invited.”

Trump’s tweet received condemnation from all corners of the NBA from all-star Lebron James, to NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

“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!” tweeted James Saturday.

The commissioner was more measured.

“I was in favor of the team visiting the White House and thought it was a rare opportunity for these players to share their views directly with the President. I am disappointed that that will not happen,” said Silver. “More importantly, I am proud of our players for taking an active role in their communities and continuing to speak out on critically important issues.”

Warrior’s coach Steven Kerr also expressed his disappointment with Trump. The coach has been openly critical of the president in the past.

“We would, in normal times, very easily be able to set aside political differences and go visit and have a great time,” said Kerr. “That’ll be awesome. But these are not ordinary times. Probably the most divisive times in my life … Because of the differences that exist in the country, the president made it really, really difficult for us to honor that institution. Our differences in terms of our team and organization's values are so dramatically different. I'm talking in terms of inclusion, civil discourse and dignity. It's hard for us. Every day we're seeing the things he's saying.”