After rescinding a White House invitation to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, President Trump taunted NFL players in a tweet early Tuesday, saying there would be no “escaping to locker rooms” when the national anthem is played at a White House event later in the day.
“We will proudly be playing the National Anthem and other wonderful music celebrating our Country today at 3 P.M., The White House, with the United States Marine Band and the United States Army Chorus. Honoring America! NFL, no escaping to Locker Rooms!” Trump tweeted.
“We have had many Championship teams recently at the White House including the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Penguins, New England Patriots, Alabama and Clemson National Champions, and many others. National Anthem & more great music today at 3:00 P.M.,” he said in a second tweet.
The president’s tweets come hours after he disinvited the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles from the White House.
“The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow. 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,” Trump said in a statement.
“The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better,” he continued.
The president said Eagles fans would still be invited to the White House to celebrate the team’s win, and “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.”
Trump has repeatedly railed against players who take a knee during the national anthem at games in an effort to protest social injustices in the U.S.
Various Eagles players, including Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long and Brandon Graham, said prior to the planned visit that they would not attend the reception at the White House.
You can read Trump’s tweets below.
We will proudly be playing the National Anthem and other wonderful music celebrating our Country today at 3 P.M., The White House, with the United States Marine Band and the United States Army Chorus. Honoring America! NFL, no escaping to Locker Rooms!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2018
We have had many Championship teams recently at the White House including the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Penguins, New England Patriots, Alabama and Clemson National Champions, and many others. National Anthem & more great music today at 3:00 P.M.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2018
