Tristan Thompson is receiving significant criticism on social media from both his fans and his former NBA peers for his recent visit to the White House. Thompson visited the James Brady Press Briefing Room on Thursday and shared his thoughts on NIL compensation for college athletes.
The criticism has only intensified since news of his visit broke on Thursday. Instagram account @balleralert shared photographs and a video of Thompson’s media session on the platform on Friday.
“We want to create a programme for them,” Thompson said at the White House, expressing the need to protect student athletes. “We need to create a system to protect them.”
Thompson was criticized in the comments section by NBA champion Matt Barnes, WNBA champion Natasha Cloud and Bronny James’ girlfriend’s dad, Dondre Whitfield.
“These n***** weirdos smh,” Barnes wrote.
“No comment. Smh,” wrote Whitfield.
“Cringe,” Cloud commented.
Matt Barnes, Dondre Whitfield and Natasha Cloud criticize Tristan Thompson’s White House visit. Thompson shared a photograph of his visit on Snapchat, which also drew criticism. The photograph highlighted his meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance.
The former Cleveland Cavaliers center has not publicly acknowledged the backlash.
Tristan Thompson transitions from basketball to acting with his latest Netflix project
Thompson has been announced as one of eight celebrities who will be featured in Netflix’s upcoming special “Squid Games: The VIP Challenge.”
The list of celebrities participating also includes Ryan Serhand, Mel B, Kristy Sarah, Kim Zolciak, Hannah Godwin and Dylan Efron. A player who participated in the show’s second season, Viper, will also be returning.
Thompson was in the NBA until the 2024-25 season and played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls over a 13-season career.
Thompson played 819 games, averaging 8.3 points and 7.8 rebounds. He was a key contributor on Cleveland’s 2015-16 team, which won the NBA championship.
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