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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| White House blames Philadelphia Eagles after Trump cancels visit | White House blames Philadelphia Eagles after Trump cancels visit |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Trump administration attacked the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday, saying the team showed “a lack of good faith” in talks over a cancelled White House visit and claiming the “vast majority” of Eagles players “decided to abandon their fans”. | |
| The day after Donald Trump announced the cancellation of the visit with a strongly worded statement, and at the same time as she appealed to Eagles fans in a state Trump won in 2016, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders accused the NFL team of staging “a political stunt”. | |
| Trump’s statement cancelling the visit cited player protests throughout the NFL over police brutality and racial inequality. | |
| “They disagree with their president,” Trump said, “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.” | “They disagree with their president,” Trump said, “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 fact, no Eagles player knelt during the playing of the national anthem last season. Some did protest in other ways, such as raising their fists. | In fact, no Eagles player knelt during the playing of the national anthem last season. Some did protest in other ways, such as raising their fists. |
| On Tuesday morning, Trump tweeted against a form of protest that will be allowed under an NFL policy banning kneeling during the anthem on the field or sidelines that was announced last month. | |
| “Staying in the locker room for the playing of our national anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling,” Trump wrote, returning again to an issue seen as attractive to his Republican base. “Sorry!” | |
| Later, a statement issued by Sanders said that “despite sensing a lack of good faith”, the White House had “attempted to work with the Eagles”. | |
| “Unfortunately,” Sanders added, “the Eagles offered to send only a tiny handful of representatives, while making clear that the great majority of players would not attend the event, despite planning to be in DC today. In other words, the vast majority of the Eagles team decided to abandon their fans. | “Unfortunately,” Sanders added, “the Eagles offered to send only a tiny handful of representatives, while making clear that the great majority of players would not attend the event, despite planning to be in DC today. In other words, the vast majority of the Eagles team decided to abandon their fans. |
| “Upon learning these facts, the president decided to change the event so that it would be a celebration of the American flag with Eagles fans and performances by United States Marine Band and the United States army Chorus.” | “Upon learning these facts, the president decided to change the event so that it would be a celebration of the American flag with Eagles fans and performances by United States Marine Band and the United States army Chorus.” |
| That event was scheduled to go ahead on Tuesday afternoon. | That event was scheduled to go ahead on Tuesday afternoon. |
| The Eagles issued a statement that avoided the issue, paying tribute instead to the supporters who followed the team to its first Super Bowl win. | The Eagles issued a statement that avoided the issue, paying tribute instead to the supporters who followed the team to its first Super Bowl win. |
| The NFL Players Association said the cancellation had resulted in the concurrent cancellation of “several player-led community service events for young people” in the Washington DC area. | The NFL Players Association said the cancellation had resulted in the concurrent cancellation of “several player-led community service events for young people” in the Washington DC area. |
| “Our union is disappointed in the decision by the White House to disinvite players from the Philadelphia Eagles from being recognized and celebrated by all Americans for their accomplishment,” the statement said. “NFL players love their country, support our troops, give back to their communities and strive to make America a better place.” | “Our union is disappointed in the decision by the White House to disinvite players from the Philadelphia Eagles from being recognized and celebrated by all Americans for their accomplishment,” the statement said. “NFL players love their country, support our troops, give back to their communities and strive to make America a better place.” |
| LeBron James and Steph Curry, star players for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, indicated their teams would not accept any invitation to visit the White House should they win the NBA finals series. | |
| At the daily White House briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Sanders seemed to attempt again to cast the NFL team in a bad light with its followers, saying “the Eagles are the ones that changed their commitment at the last minute … and the president thinks that the fans deserve better than that.” | |
| “Certainly,” she added, “we would hope that all of the people of Pennsylvania would share the Potus’s commitment to the national anthem and pride that we have in the country.” | |
| Pennsylvania was one of a group of usually Democratic states that Trump won in 2016, paving his road to an electoral college victory despite losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by nearly 3m ballots. A Trump-backed candidate, however, recently lost a special election in a Pennsylvania district the president took by 20 points. | |
| Though many of Trump’s usual Republican supporters rallied to his side on Tuesday, there was some dissent in party ranks. Ryan Costello, a Pennsylvania congressman, wrote: “Eagles my fave team. Super Bowl win so meaningful as Philly sports fan. POTUS handled poorly. | |
| “This is a depressing commentary on our political culture, very deflating to me. Was really excited for today. As a fan who bleeds green. Not going to WH. Disappointed in all of this.” | |
| Among a number of Democrats and Pennsylvania lawmakers who criticised Trump, Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney said the president was a “fragile egomaniac”. | Among a number of Democrats and Pennsylvania lawmakers who criticised Trump, Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney said the president was a “fragile egomaniac”. |
| Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, the Democrat defended players’ rights to protest under the first amendment. He did not want to debate the issue with the president, he said, because the president was “a child”. | Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, the Democrat defended players’ rights to protest under the first amendment. He did not want to debate the issue with the president, he said, because the president was “a child”. |
| Trump also tweeted: “Nascar and Champion Martin Truex Jr were recently at the White House. It was a great day for a great sport!” | Trump also tweeted: “Nascar and Champion Martin Truex Jr were recently at the White House. It was a great day for a great sport!” |
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