Several members of the Columbia University fencing team wanted to give President Trump a letter disavowing his administration’s gender equity policies when the group visited the White House on Friday. But according to team captains Elise Gout and Nolen Scruggs, a White House aide told them that the Secret Service discourages visitors from handing items to the president.
According to the Washington Post, the aide took the letter and promised the athletes that they would deliver it to President Trump.
The Columbia athletes, who were part of a White House celebration of 22 NCAA championship teams, reportedly did not express their objections during their brief, direct interactions with the president.