Renowned U.S. alpine skier and Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn remains undecided about accepting any future invitations to the White House, a stance that contrasts with her firm refusal back in 2017.
During the lead-up to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2017, Vonn openly rejected a White House invitation, specifically citing her disapproval of President Trump’s administration at the time.
When queried by CNN about a potential visit, Vonn responded, “Absolutely not,” before adding, “I know that each member of the U.S. team is usually invited, but even if I win, I won’t attend.”
Vonn expressed her intent to “represent the people of the United States, not the president,” during the sporting event.
She emphasized the significance of the Olympics, stating, “I take the Olympics very seriously for what they stand for, and the meaning of walking under our flag at the opening ceremony is profound. I aim to represent our country with integrity, unlike some current government officials.”
In that Olympic year, Vonn achieved three bronze medals, adding to her impressive record, which includes a gold medal from the Vancouver Olympics eight years earlier.
In 2025, ahead of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, Vonn neither committed to visiting the White House nor outright refused the invitation.
“First of all, I just want to say that every Olympic athlete from Team USA is normally invited… it has nothing to do with if you win a medal or not,” Vonn told Fox News.
“I’m not going to answer that question because I’m just not going to answer it. I want to keep my passport,” she added.
