The Golden State Warriors, the reigning NBA champions, have decided to visit local children in Washington, D.C. after President Donald Trump disinvited them from the White House.
The team has decided to visit the nation's capital next Tuesday and go on an undisclosed tour with local D.C. kids, according to ESPN.
"It's their championship. They got disinvited to the White House, so it's up to them what they wanted to do. So they made their plans," said Steve Kerr, the Warriors' head coach. "I want the players to have a good day and to do something positive and to enjoy what they're doing."
The event—which will not be open to the media and only consist of players, coaches, and students—came after Trump disinvited the team from a White House visit.
In September, Trump withdrew the customary invitation for the reigning NBA championship team to visit the White House, after Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant criticized the president and his administration.
Durant said in August that he would not visit the White House and that his teammates "all agree."
"I don't respect who's in office right now," he said at the time. "[I]f I know my guys well enough, they'll all agree with me."
The next month, Curry said that he would vote against the Warriors going to the White House. His decision came at the same time that Trump suggested that NFL owners should fire players who refuse to stand for the national anthem.
Trump then went on Twitter to say that the Warriors' invitation was officially "withdrawn."
Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
After Trump's decision to disinvite the team, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) extended an invitation for the team to visit the U.S. Capitol. The Warriors chose to turn down that invitation because they did not want to politicize a visit to the nation's capital.