President Trump on Monday abruptly rescinded an invitation to host the Eagles at the White House, citing the “smaller delegation” that was planning to attend and again stoking a national debate by insisting that players “proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart.”
The celebration was canceled fewer than 24 hours before the team was scheduled to visit.
“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 late Monday. “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. 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. I will be there at 3:00 p.m. with the United States Marine Band and the United States Army Chorus to celebrate America.”
The Eagles were scheduled to be honored by Trump at 3 p.m. on the South Lawn. Fewer than 10 players planned to attend, a team source told the Inquirer and Daily News. Eagles representatives were in Washington on Monday preparing logistics. Owner Jeffrey Lurie planned to make the visit, the source said.
Trump instead will hold a rally for how great Trump is or something, because this was always about Trump and how everyone will worship him or else, and never about the Eagles, the NFL, or even really about black players in the league (other than they have Trump pegged as the racist asshole he is and aren't afraid of him.) Remember, none of the Eagles took a knee during the season. This is all about Trump picking up his ball and going home when it became clear that the Super Bowl champs weren't about to kiss his ring.
Mayor Jim Kenney praised the Eagles for how they represented the city in the Super Bowl and their activism off the field and attacked Trump’s decision.
“These are players who stand up for the causes they believe in and who contribute in meaningful ways to their community. They represent the diversity of our nation — a nation in which we are free to express our opinions,” Kenney said in a statement. “Disinviting them from 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.”
Democrats in Congress said they would instead invite the Eagles to the U.S. Capitol.
Jim Kenney already making a better mayor for Philly than Michael Nutter, that's for sure. Anybody who straight up calls Trump a fragile egomaniac in public is okay in my book. Meanwhile, the White House is accusing the Eagles of "abandoning their fans" because of course everyone loves Trump and only monsters wouldn't, or something.
It's always about him.
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