White House appears to walk back Iowa’s ‘joke’ invitation after NCAA loss

Jill Biden’s press secretary has walked back comments the first lady made about inviting Iowa’s women’s basketball team to the White House after their loss in the NCAA championship game on Sunday.

Biden watched LSU’s 102-85 victory over Iowa from the stands at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday night. National champions often visit the White House after title victories, but Biden broke with tradition when she suggested Iowa could too.

“I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House; we always do. So, we hope LSU will come,” Biden said on Monday. “But, you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come too, because they played such a good game.”

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about whether Joe Biden would also extend an invitation to Iowa – and whether it would be a joint visit with LSU or a separate engagement. However, the first lady received pushback for her comments.

LSU star Angel Reese tweeted a link to a story on Jill Biden’s remarks on Monday. “A JOKE,” she wrote, along with three rolling-on-floor-laughing emojis.

The First Lady loved watching the NCAA women's basketball championship game alongside young student athletes and admires how far women have advanced in sports since the passing of Title IX.

On Tuesday, Jill Biden’s press secretary, Vanessa Valdivia, tweeted to clarify that the first lady “admires how far women have advanced in sports since the passing of Title IX” and that “[her] comments in Colorado were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.”

Iowa did not immediately respond to a request for comment on a potential White House