Reporter Presses Jean-Pierre on Whether Chiefs Kicker Harrison Butker Will Be Banned From White House Over Speech

C-SPAN

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked Friday if Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will still be invited to the White House despite his recent comments about President Joe Biden.

Butker recently made headlines for the contents of his speech at Benedictine College’s commencement ceremony. During the speech, he challenged Biden’s Catholic faith and criticized him for his support of abortion. He also railed against “dangerous gender ideologies” and told female graduates that most of them would be more excited about becoming mothers than having successful careers.

With the Chiefs being the reigning Super Bowl champions, they have been invited to the White House. Because of this, one reporter wondered if Butker would still be welcome.

“So, what I can say is all of the team – per usual when there is a championship – gets invited,” Jean-Pierre said. “I don’t have anything to add on their attendance or how that looks, but the team is always invited. Everyone on the team is invited. I just don’t have anything beyond that.”

Reporter: Can we still assume that the Kansas City Chief’s will still be visiting the White House this year?

KJP: The team is always invited. Everyone on the team is invited. I don’t have anything beyond that.

Reporter: Is the Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker welcome at this… pic.twitter.com/4JtooSH5X4

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 17, 2024

When she was pressed further on Butker specifically, Jean-Pierre emphasized that the team as a whole is invited.

“What I can say is we invite the entire team and we do that always,” she said. “I don’t have anything beyond that.

“We invite the team. It’s an invitation that goes to the team, and so it’s up to the team who comes and who doesn’t come.”