Staff ReportsIn a move that seems more choreographed than spontaneous, President Biden recently met with the Denver Nuggets—right before they could slip out of his grasp for good. This meeting likely marks the final time he’ll rub elbows with an NBA team as president, just one of the many symbolic end-of-an-era moments as his term limps to a close. With approval ratings dwindling faster than a late-night talk show viewership, Biden’s sports diplomacy appears increasingly desperate.
The Nuggets, fresh off their 2023 NBA championship, were conspicuously absent from the White House last year due to what they claimed were scheduling conflicts. Seems like even basketball players have found better things to do than listen to Biden stutter through a speech. Perhaps the best part of their win was realizing they could skip the traditional White House visit without causing much of a stir. After all, who really cares about a photo op when it means listening to a president known more for his gaffes than his game plan?
The last time Biden hosted a winning team was the 2022 celebration for the Golden State Warriors. That meet-and-greet was hardly the slam dunk the administration envisioned. As the Warriors celebrated their victory, the president’s middle-of-the-road approach to sports and culture became clearer, with many wondering if he was out of touch with the very fans he hoped to engage. The enthusiasm was more like a fast break slow down, leaving basketball fans scratching their heads about what was happening in the halls of power.
WATCH LIVE: Biden hosts NBA champions Boston Celtics at White House https://t.co/YZHG9NycW2
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 21, 2024
With some of his closest allies in the sports world ignoring him or outright skipping the chance to be on his turf, Biden’s sports meet-ups have become more of a running joke than a showcase of unity. The NBA champions might as well skip the parade and just stay home on their couches watching the games. It’s a culture clash indeed when the president seems to be trying harder to engage athletes than they do to engage with him.
As Biden barrels toward the finish line of his presidency, one can only wonder what remaining sporting events will grace the White House lawn. Or is it possible that champions and celebrities have finally realized there are better places to promote their brands than in the increasingly irrelevant grasp of this administration? Save a spot on the sofa, because if this keeps up, it’ll be the couches that see the real action, while the White House just serves as a backdrop for what was once considered a highlight of the presidency.
