President Donald Trump’s director of legislative affairs charged Sunday the NBA champion Golden State Warriors were the first to politicize a White House visit that has now erupted into a sports world firestorm.
In an interview on NBC News’ "Meet The Press," Marc Short said Trump "is standing with a vast majority of people who think our flag should be respected."
Trump rescinded a White House invitation to Warriors star Stephen Curry after he indicated he wouldn’t attend with teammates. Trump vented his rage at NFL owners who wouldn’t fire players who were part of any on-field protest of racial injustice.
The Warriors rejected the White House offer after Curry was disinvited.
"Steph Curry is an amazing story," Short said. "He is an icon for a lot of young children. My middle schooler idolizes him," he said noting Curry was "a great guy that was overlooked."
"He is now perhaps the best basketball player in the NBA," Short contended. "What is unfortunate is when they politicize a visit to the White House. It's not necessary to make this into a political argument. He is trying to invite them to acknowledge their terrific season and Steph Curry is amazing.
"Why they chose to politicize it is unfortunate," he said, adding: They were the first to come out and politicize…"
"If they don't want to go to the White House, the president says ‘don’t come.’"