Donald Trump Cancels Eagles White House Visit Over Feud On National Anthem Protests

President Donald Trump on Monday night cancelled the Philadelphia Eagles’ visit to the White House on Tuesday after a majority of the team’s players and coaches announced they would boycott the trip in light of Trump’s demands that players stand for the national anthem.

Eagles visit to White House Canceled

According to the New York Times, White House officials stated less than 10 members of the Super Bowl LII-winning team were hoping to visit Washington, D.C. on Tuesday afternoon despite Trump’s invitation from several weeks ago. However, it became clear this year that many Eagles players were not remotely interested in meeting Trump.

Several NFL team owners admitted last week that Trump influenced the league’s decision to fine players who kneeled or sat for the anthem before games, a move started by free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick in August 2016 to make a statement about systemic racial inequality and pervasive police brutality in the United States. The NFL said that as part of the new rule, players are allowed to protest by staying in the locker rooms before games if they so choose.

Some NFL executives like New York Jets CEO and Chairman Christopher Johnson have said players will not be penalized for protests beyond what the league has dictated, and have even offered to pay for any fines incurred.

Last season, several Eagles players — both African-American and White — protested the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner in several different ways. Safety Malcolm Jenkins and defensive end Chris Long were among those who participated in protests by raising their fists or linking arms.

“The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow,” Trump said in a statement released Monday night. “They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the national anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.”

In a tweet, Trump announced that there would be a ceremony held at the White House on Tuesday afternoon intended to “honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the national anthem.”

In a statement posted to Twitter on Monday, the Eagles did not directly address the anthem protests issue but simply thanked fans for their support in leading up to their national championship victory.

Former Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith was among the several NFL players who slammed Trump’s tweets about the controversy.

“So many lies,” Smith wrote. “Here are some facts 1. Not many people were going to go 2. No one refused to go simply because Trump ‘insists’ folks stand for the anthem 3. The President continues to spread the false narrative that players are anti military.”

Long said in January that if the Eagles won the Super Bowl, he would skip the White House visit.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement that Trump rescinding his invitation of the Eagles to the White House “only proves that our president is not a true patriot, but a fragile egomaniac obsessed with crowd size and afraid of the embarrassment of throwing a party to which no one wants to attend.”

“City Hall is always open for a celebration.”

Trump recently said of players who protested the national anthem: “Maybe they shouldn’t be in the country.”

A statement posted on Twitter by Jenkins on Tuesday noted that no Eagles players ever actually knelt for the anthem last season, but instead protested in other ways. It also described how many of the team’s players have been doing charitable deeds off the field through foundations. Jenkins added the hashtag “#TheFightContinues.”