It wasn’t the most enthusiastic invite of all time. However, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s invitation to the White House remains open despite the backlash over his defense of the Christian faith during a commencement address last weekend.
The Chiefs are scheduled to visit the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl victory. On Friday, a reporter asked Jean-Pierre if Butker was still invited after his speech at Benedictine College, where he criticized President Biden for his pro-abortion stance, praised motherhood, and urged men to embrace masculinity.
A post on Twitter highlighted Butker’s criticism of President Biden, quoting him as saying, “He has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies that I’m sure to many people it appears you can be both Catholic and pro-choice.”
Jean-Pierre responded to a CNN reporter, “What I can say is all of the team, per usual when there is a championship team, gets invited. 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.”
Should Butker be disinvited, he would be the first athlete to be selectively excluded from a White House championship celebration in recent memory.
Butker sparked controversy, notably among those on both the left and the right, primarily for his assertion that a mother’s role is ultimately more meaningful and fulfilling than any career.
“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing achievement. You should be proud of all that you have achieved at this point in your young lives,” Butker said. “I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you.”
“How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.
“I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and a mother. I am on this stage and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation … It cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because of a girl I met in class back in middle school, convert to the faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most-important tiles of all: homemaker.”
Butker faced significant criticism for his Christian remarks to a Christian audience. Even the NFL distanced itself from his comments.
“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” wrote NFL Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Beane Jonathan. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”
Jean-Pierre reiterated to CNN, “What I can say is we invite the entire team, and we do that always. 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.”
