The University of Georgia women’s tennis team faced criticism following a White House photo that featured former President Donald Trump and a group of men positioned in front of the female athletes. The team visited the White House on Tuesday to celebrate their recent NCAA Division I championship win.

In an image released by White House press aide Margo Martin, Trump stood with five Georgia staff members—deputy athletic director Ford Williams, athletic director Josh Brooks, head coach Drake Bernstein, associate head coach Jarryd Chaplin, and assistant coach Will Reynolds—front and center, while the 11 women players appeared behind them on a raised platform. A video accompanying the photo showed Trump shaking hands only with the men, not the athletes.

The photo quickly generated backlash on social media, with critics questioning the decision to place the women in the background and the absence of direct engagement between Trump and the players. Former tennis star Martina Navratilova commented on the image, highlighting its symbolic implications, while others expressed confusion and dismay over how the scene was orchestrated.

The University of Georgia team acknowledged the visit on their official social media account, describing it as an honor to represent their school and thanking Trump for the invitation. The women’s tennis team was one of seven championship teams honored at the White House this week, which also included other women’s teams and a mixed-gender rifle team.

White House visits for championship teams have long been a tradition, though they became more contentious during Trump’s presidency. Prior to 2019, no women’s sports teams had made a solo visit under Trump’s administration; some teams participated in joint events with men’s teams. The current event marked a rare occasion when multiple women’s teams were honored in a single gathering.

Notably, the U.S. women’s hockey team declined an invitation to the White House earlier this year after winning Olympic gold, citing scheduling conflicts and prior commitments. The decision followed a publicized joke by Trump suggesting an invitation was necessary. The men’s hockey team, also a gold medal winner, accepted their invitation and attended the State of the Union address as well.

The image from Tuesday’s event prompted comparisons to other instances where women have been overshadowed by male figures in official photography. Critics drew parallels to a 2017 photo depicting Trump surrounded by men while signing an anti-abortion bill. The incident reignited conversations about gender representation within the Trump administration.

Trump’s presidency faced accusations of misogyny, particularly in light of recent departures of female cabinet members including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Both were replaced by male successors, contributing to what had become one of the least diverse cabinets in decades. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer also announced her resignation shortly before the White House event.

The controversy surrounding the White House photo reflects ongoing tensions regarding the recognition and treatment of women in sports and politics during and after the Trump administration.