The reigning Super Bowl Champs, the Philadelphia Eagles, were scheduled to visit the White House, as all champions do when they win a major sporting title. However, after hearing there would be low attendance by the players, President Trump canceled the visit. Trump then turned the event into a "celebration of America."
Eagles' wide receiver Torrey Smith said back in February that many teammates wouldn't go. He would go on to say, "If I told you that I was invited to a party by an individual I believe is sexist or has no respect for women or I told you that this individual also called my peers and my friends SOBs, you would understand why I wouldn't want to go to that party. Why is it any different when the person has title of President of the United States."
The team wasn't planning to attend simply because they don't like President Trump and what he's done/said in office. Then, the NFL came out with a new policy that makes all team members either stand on the field during the national anthem or remain in the locker room. Many NFL players have spoken out against this, including two Eagles' players, Malcolm Jenkins and Chris Long.
Long tweeted in May, "This is fear of a diminished bottom line. It's also fear of a president turning his base against a corporation. This is not patriotism. Don't get it confused." Trump argued the next day, saying, "You have to stand proudly for the National Anthem. You shouldn't be playing, you shouldn't be there. Maybe they shouldn't be in the country…The NFL owners did the right thing."
No Eagles player throughout the 2017 season kneed or was in the locker room for any national anthem. However, Trump uninvited them because "Staying in the Locker Room for the playing our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling." He not only uninvited them because no one wanted to come but also is making the topic about something else that is irrelevant. Before the new national anthem policy came out, there was going to be low attendance anyway.
Many Eagles players have been active off the field helping charities all over. Chris Long donated his entire salary for educational equality. Malcolm Jenkins visited Congress to push criminal justice reforms. Carson Wentz donated $500K to build Haiti sports complex. The Eagles raised $2.5 million for Autism research. Rodney McLeod and Tre Sullivan are teaming up with a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization to "raise awareness and resources for college preparedness and access to care programs for Philadelphia youth."
