US President Biden welcomed the 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics at the White House on Thursday, though his remarks suggested some uncertainty or perhaps attempted humour.
During his address, Biden turned to the team and asked, “You’re the Celtics, right?” This drew mild laughter from the audience.
He continued with light-hearted comments, saying, “They just showed up. I don’t know where the hell they came from.”
In his speech, Biden disclosed his Secret Service code name. “All of you may not know this, but my Secret Service name is ‘Celtic.’ For real, because I’m Irish,” he shared. “Everybody behind me is Irish in their heart. I feel a special pride in this trophy for this old Irish Celtic. To all you Celtics, congratulations.”
He highlighted a historical connection, noting that John F Kennedy was the first president to host NBA champions when the Celtics visited in 1963.
“Part of that wonderful tradition, celebrating the power of sports to bring people together. It’s a tradition that I’ve had the honour to continue. No matter the sport. What these champions all have in common are core values. … Hard work, teamwork, respect and the knowledge that no one of us is ever as good as all of us can be when we’re together,” Biden remarked.
Following his address, Biden received a personalised Celtics jersey and took a basketball, which he dribbled and passed to people in the crowd whilst descending the stairs.
The event, held on the South Lawn, was attended by the 2023-24 Celtics team, coaches and ownership group.
Notably, the 2023 champion Denver Nuggets missed their White House visit due to reported “scheduling issues,” according to The Denver Post.
The previous NBA champions to visit Biden’s White House were the 2021-2022 Golden State Warriors in January 2023. The Celtics’ visit was arranged for November, with Trump expected to take office by late January next year.
