‘I Want All Those Black Men to Stand in Our House’ [WATCH]

Whoopi Goldberg sparked reaction during Thursday’s episode of “The View” when she voiced support for the New York Knicks accepting President Trump’s invitation to visit the White House following their NBA championship win.

The Oscar-winning co-host surprised many by backing Knicks owner James Dolan’s decision to accept, even though she has long been outspoken against Trump.

“I want them to go. I want all those black men to stand in our house and remind all of those people, as we tried to remind the vice president, that when you try to destroy one part of history, you’re destroying all of our histories,” Goldberg said.

Her remarks came as “The View” panel debated whether the team should attend the traditional champions’ visit, which would make the Knicks the first NBA team to visit Trump’s White House.

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Dolan, a personal friend of Trump, announced Wednesday that the team planned to go, noting that the president had been courtside at Madison Square Garden for Game Three of the Finals on June 8.

It was still unclear, however, whether all players would participate. Knicks backup center Trey Jemison III told Politico New York, “I don’t know. We’ll see.”

Goldberg underscored that the invitation represented more than just a photo opportunity.

“They, as champions, not only as amazing basketball players, but as people who were down and came back up, this is what this looks like. This is what this looks like,” she said.

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She doubled down, saying she wanted the team to make the visit so “the kids know that nobody, nobody, can keep you down if you are rising up.”

The live audience cheered enthusiastically after Goldberg’s defense, shouting their agreement and clapping.

Other co-hosts on “The View” were far less certain.

Sara Haines said the invitation placed the Knicks in “a really precarious position,” while Alyssa Farah Griffin agreed that it was an “uncomfortable position” for the players.

Joy Behar pointed out her mixed feelings, explaining, “Yes, maybe you have to respect the White House. You don’t have to respect who’s in the White House, though.”

Sunny Hostin reminded the panel that the last five NBA championship teams during Trump’s previous administration had declined invitations, claiming it was because “he politicizes the events that come before him.”

After Goldberg’s statement, Hostin admitted she still felt “very conflicted over it.”

She added that the situation put “a lot of pressure on the captain of the team, Jalen Brunson,” especially because “Jose Alvarado, the Puerto Rican player, was already approached … and he said, ‘I will do what my team decides.’”

The conversation later turned to another recent visit to the White House involving athletes.

The co-hosts referenced the UFC Freedom 250 event, where fighter Josh Hokit drew criticism for calling former First Lady Michelle Obama “a man.”

Haines connected that moment to Goldberg’s call for the Knicks to “show up there and stand tall,” saying, “Why don’t you [the Knicks] just show up and show them what real men look like?”

“Exactly!” Griffin exclaimed in agreement, as the spirited debate came to a close.

WATCH:

The exchange left the audience buzzing, reflecting the deep division not only on the panel but among fans over how the Knicks should handle their high-profile White House visit.

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