President Donald Trump abruptly called off a visit by the Philadelphia Eagles Monday evening, citing an ongoing dispute among several NFL players over national anthem protests.
In a statement released Monday, Trump said some members of reigning Super Bowl championship team “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 Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow,” he said.
As recently as a few hours ago, outlets were still reporting on which Eagles players planned to visit the White House tomorrow.
Several had kept a running list of those who had decided against attending, with some players announcing their decision within days of the Super Bowl.
The Eagles’ organization continued to grapple with the issue, as it remained unclear even today who planned to make the trip, as some refused to confirm or deny their attendance plans.
Several Eagles players have been vocal opponents of both the President and the NFL’s recently released policy requiring players either stand during the anthem or remain in the locker room. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said teams will be fined if players on the field fail to stand.
In Trump’s statement Monday, he said he believed the team would be sending a smaller delegation, but that fans attending the event “deserve better.”
In its place, Trump said he will host a ceremony that “will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem.”
The event will feature the United States Marine Band and the United States Army Chorus.
Following Trump’s announcement, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney weighed in on the news and had some choice words for the president.
“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,” Kenney said in a statement.
The mayor also defended the city’s team, describing the Eagles as embodying “everything that makes our county and our city great.”
He said the football fans across the county rallied behind them because “we like to root for the underdog.” He added that he’s also proud of team members’ off-the-field activism, and willingness to stand up for their beliefs.
“City Hall is always open for a celebration,” he said.
For what it’s worth, Eagles President Don Smolenski was in Harrisburg today with the Lombardi Trophy, meeting with several in the Legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf.
The Pennsylvania Capitol had some special visitors today. Great to meet @Eagles President Don Smolenski – thanks for bringing the Lombardi Trophy along to celebrate the @SuperBowl champions. #PAproud #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/o6fLkXaMTT
— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) June 4, 2018
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26 Responses
Wolf is my executive branch leader, Not lying Dumb Donald. Go E A G L E S. Trump you’re FIRED come 2020 if not in jail first.
The world champion Eagles are an inspiration to all. Trump is just an asshole egomaniac.
A serial draft dodger trying to define “patriotism”? Oh, no. No, no, no.
He IS a jagoff!!!
Good for Trump! I don’t like him as a person but I am disgusted with the concerted effort to
Undercut his Presidency. If you use words like racist, dishonest and egomaniacal- you must mean Obama.
Good for Trump telling Eagles to get lost—-
Trump cancelled because knew most of the team had no interest in being part of his propaganda and already bailed. He IS a racist. He DOES lie nearly everytime he opens his mouth and he is JUST NOT BRIGHT. There is no clever strategy. He has no clue what he is doing. He has made America an international embarrassment.
…NOT!!!
Glad you’re not my Doctor, Robert. I’d hate to be treated by someone with so little sensibility.
Sklaroff is the kind of doctor you go to when Kevorkian is no longer around. 🙂
And people say David doesn’t have a sense of humor??
Let’s see Dem leaders on ethics- Bubba Clinton? Hiliary- you can’t see my email Clinton, ERIC HOLD me in contempt Holder & Barak don’t cross my line Obama. And some of you knock Trump- no wonder we need more Drs?
JRep-
Hillary’s work and personal emails were separated by a legal team. The person emails weren’t a matter of public record, and aren’t anyone’s business. They probably contained a ton of politically embarrassing stuff like what kind of hemorrhoid cream she like, and what elected officials she thought where @ssholes but nothing relevant to her work at state dept, which was turned over.
The Republicans in congress spend YEARS investigating Hillary for Benghazi and emails, and came up with nothing.
Mueller’s been at this just over a year and has around two dozen indictments, confessions, cooperating witnesses.
Say anything vs. straight talk-thanks for the say anything defending the indefensible.
What a self indulgent clown. I can’t wait till his little toady here in PA, Barletta goes down in flames in November! I’d suggest the clown get better lawyers than America’s favorite little fascist Giuliani!
He takes something good like patriotism and weapomizes it for his own selfish and propaganda purposes.
He can take commie flag/national anthem disgracer Roseanne Barr, his Vietnam era bone spurs, the racist Lou Barletta, and his wall and shove it all!!!
What a sad little man.
This looks so weak, I am almost embarrassed for him, but he is beyond shame.
Advice for Eagles fans…go to the Trump House in large numbers for the uninvited alternate ceremony, then take a knee.
The difference between the Eagles and Trump is that one is a champ and one is a chump.
Trump disinvited the Eagles for two reasons:
1) He thought it would be a small crowd and he would be embarrassed. Because there’s nothing Trump fears more than the appearance of being weak. Not actually *being* weak mind you. Just the appearance of it.
2) He wanted to take headlines away from the fact that his lawyers said the president cannot obstruct justice, and that in any event the president can pardon himself.
How do you “uninvite” someone who says they aren’t coming?
BTW, the Russians didn’t help the Eagles win!
He probably doesn’t care because let’s be honest, he’s probably not planning on running in 2020.
…NOT!
Wow- he just lost Pennsylvania in 2020.
Don’t bet on it. It wasn’t the Philly area that gave Trump his margin of victory. Besides, no one in Western PA likes the Eagles any way.
His margin in SE-PA was sufficient to suppress the customary Dem-dominance [1 million registration edge] and, therefore, this DOES carry electoral impact.
He is not going to carry SW PA again in 2020. He lied to the coal miners. Their jobs aren’t coming back TRUMP IS A LIAR. The blue collars will vote Democrat in 2020. Revenge on the asshat liar Trump.
You sir forget how slim DJT’s margin of victory was in PA