Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby has become the latest major North American sports star to reject an invitation to the Trump White House.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions will have a private gathering at the White House on Monday, which is a departure from other title-winning teams that met with President Donald Trump and his predecessors in front of the media.
Holtby was asked Friday if his support of the LGBTQ community factored into his decision to 'respectfully decline' the offer, as he put it. The 29-year Saskatchewan native has marched in several pride parades in the Washington area.
'It's one of the factors,' he told reporters. 'But my family, myself, we believe in a world where humans are treated with respect regardless of your stature or what you're born into. That's just where it's at with this decision. You're asked to choose what side you're on, and it's pretty clear what side I'm on. I believe this is the right decision for myself and my family.'
Trump drew criticism from human rights groups after banning transgender people from the military in 2017.
Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby has become the latest major North American sports star to reject an invitation to the Trump White House
Holtby said his support of the LGBTQ community factored into his decision to 'respectfully decline' the White House invitation. The 29-year Saskatchewan native has marched in several pride parades in the Washington area (pictured)
Speaking after Capitals practice, Holtby explained that it was not an easy choice to make – particularly because he did not want to disappoint his teammates.
'It's a tough situation for everyone, to be forced into making a decision,' he said. 'You're a team. You want to stick together, no matter what. I hope everyone kind of blows it away. That you don't worry about who goes and who doesn't.
'For me, it's just a personal thing. I believe in what I believe in. In order to stick to those values, I have to do what I think is right, but that doesn't make a difference in anyone else's decision. We stick by every teammate and their decision.
'There's more to it than politics for some guys,' Holty said of the annual champions' White House visit. 'There's history and pride in the nation. It's one of those pretty cool things that's been a thing for a long time. That's why we respect [the decision] either way.'
Recent champions like the Golden State Warriors and the Philadelphia Eagles have balked at the customary visit to the White House, or were disinvited, depending on one's perspective.
Several players on the Warriors said they would not go to the White House after winning the NBA title in 2017, so Trump rescinded the invitation for the entire team.
The White House also canceled a planned visit for the Philadelphia Eagles last June; and during the 2018 NBA Finals, Trump pre-emptively disinvited by the Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but only after LeBron James declared publicly that nobody from either team would be visiting 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
President Donald Trump (C) holds up a customized jersey presented to him by 2017 Super Bowl Champions the New England Patriots during their visit to the White House in April of that year. Brady did not attend that visit, citing 'personal family matters,' which reportedly upset Trump
Holtby insists he does not blame any teammate for attending Monday's White House visit
Holtby cited those team's decisions while explaining his on Friday.
'Once the first team doesn't go, it puts the onus on every other team in professional sports to make a
