Adam Rippon Skips White House Visit With Winter Olympians

Figure skater Adam Rippon was MIA at the White House when Team USA Olympians made their visit Friday, following through on a promise he’d made in January.

“I won’t go to the White House,” Rippon told the BBC at the time. “I don’t think somebody like me would be welcome there. I know what it’s like to go into a room and feel like you’re not wanted there.”

Rippon kept his word.

“Olympians from the 2018 Games have been invited to go to the White House today,” Rippon tweeted Friday. “I will not be going. I will not stand with people who discriminate against those that they perceive as different.”

Instead of visiting the Oval Office with his teammates, Rippon said he’d be making donations to three of his favorite causes.

My first donation is to @glaad. I love to be partnered with them and will continue to work together to help empower LGBTQ youth. https://t.co/g9cVJfREUc

— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) April 27, 2018

Another donation is to @PPFA. They provide many different affordable health care services and have helped so many different people. https://t.co/9fYu1X49N8

— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) April 27, 2018

I’ll also be making a donation to the @RedCross to help with the work they do to provide disaster relief. https://t.co/hocEjeveGq

— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) April 27, 2018

President Donald Trump congratulated the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes from the Pyeongchang Winter Games at the White House.

"You pulled it off. Incredible," Trump said, according to USA Today. "To be on the team and for those who won medals, all of you are winners. Just total winners. You are going to be winners in life.”

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