*Following the Trump administration’s statement Monday night that NFL players were not welcome at the White House celebration of the Super Bowl champion team, current and former NFL players hit back on Tuesday, calling Trump “cowardly” and asking when he will be impeached, after he abruptly disinvited the Philadelphia Eagles from a White House event.
In case you missed it, peep Trump’s tweet below:
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
As noted by The Huff Post, Wide receiver Torrey Smith, who played for the Eagles last season, spoke out against Trump in a series of tweets, saying the issue was never about standing for the national anthem.
Check out his tweets below.
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So many lies smh
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 pic.twitter.com/89GUNhJ4eE— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) June 4, 2018
“It’s a cowardly act to cancel the celebration because the majority of the people don’t want to see you. To make it about the anthem is foolish,” Smith tweeted.
There are a lot of people on the team that have plenty of different views. The men and women that wanted to go should’ve been able to go. It’s a cowardly act to cancel the celebration because the majority of the people don’t want to see you. To make it about the anthem is foolish
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) June 4, 2018
Smith had previously said that he would not be attending the event at Trump’s White House. In a statement shared Monday night by Dave Zirin of The Nation, Smith explained that his decision was because of Trump’s disrespect toward women, minority groups and Smith’s peers.
Philadelphia Eagles wise receiver Torrey Smith said in February that most of his teammates wouldn’t go to the White House. Here was his reason. Sounds about right. pic.twitter.com/12vyVBn1LB
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) June 5, 2018
In light of Trump’s decision, former Eagles wide receiver Cris Carter suggested that former President Barack Obama “should invite the Eagles to his house for a barbecue” instead.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney also spoke out about Trump’s cancellation, saying it “only proves that our President is not a true patriot.”
“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,” he 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.”
The NFL Players Association also said it is “disappointed” by Trump’s decision.
“NFL players love their country, support our troops, give back to their communities and strive to make America a better place,” it said in a statement.
In related news, some random guy kneeled during the anthem at Trump’s National Anthem celebration Tuesday (June 5), which replaced the Eagles WH visit.
Watch:
Holy crap, this is awesome. Random guy takes a knee during National Anthem at Trump’s National Anthem celebration, which replaced the Eagles WH visit. pic.twitter.com/V0fv01Nkxv
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) June 5, 2018
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