President Trump announced Monday evening that the Philadelphia Eagles professional football team will no longer be visiting the White House on Tuesday to celebrate their Super Bowl victory last season.
Several members of the team were not planning on attending because they disagreed with Trump’s stance that all players should stand during the national anthem before games.
Though he acknowledged the team wanted to send a smaller delegation of players and staff to the White House, Trump said in a statement that such a showing would be an affront to fans planning to attend.
“The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow,” Trump said. “The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better. These fans are still invited to the White House to be part of a different type of ceremony — one that will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem.”
[Also read: NFL players union ‘disappointed’ by Trump’s decision to snub the Philadelphia Eagles]
Trump said in the statement that he will be still be attending the celebration in the afternoon alongside the U.S. Marine Band and the U.S. Army Chorus. However, instead of celebrating the Eagle’s Super Bowl win, Trump said he would be celebrating America.
He also tweeted: “Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!” He was referring to how NFL owners recently voted that players either had to stand on the field for the national anthem, or remain in the locker rooms, otherwise teams would be issued a fine.
The Philadelphia Eagles Football Team was invited to the White House. Unfortunately, only a small number of players decided to come, and we canceled the event. Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2018
The Eagles later put out a statement which didn’t address Trump directly, saying only the team appreciates the support from fans and that they are looking forward to continuing preparations for the 2018 season.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) June 5, 2018
Last football season was surrounded by controversy as dozens of players, coaches, and staff took a knee on the football field during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. While many claim they knelt in protest to race inequalities in the U.S., others, including Trump, saw as a move to disrespect the country and those who serve in the military.
Last season, multiple players from the New England Patriots skipped their team’s visit to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl LI victory.
