President Donald Trump has uninvited the Philadelphia Eagles from a planned White House celebration slated for Tuesday after learning that several of the winning Super Bowl champions would – he says – not be able to come “to be celebrated” because they “disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem.”
In reality, a large number are refusing to show up, not because of the national Anthem, but because of the president himself.
Instead, Trump will still hold and attend the ceremony, he says, with the invited fans, but will turn the event into a disturbingly nationalistic and militaristic celebration.
“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 his statement.
“The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better. These fans are still invited to the White House 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,” the president added. “I will be there at 3:00 p.m. with the United States Marine Band and the United States Army Chorus to celebrate America.”
Trump, as many noted, is playing with fire.
Some on social media immediately noted that Pennsylvania is a swing state, so uninviting the Super Bowl champions after their historic win is not only rude and disrespectful, it’s just bad politics.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, called Trump’s action a “political stunt,” and one-upped him:
NFL wide receiver Torrey Smith, who played for the Eagles when the won the Super Bowl, told The Nation’s Dave Zirin why he wouldn’t go:
He also poked holes in Trump’s claims:
Many on social media, tired of Trump calling the shots and creating the narrative, are taking the opportunity to turn the tables on the Twittering president:
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes:
Democratic US Senator from Hawaii Brian Schatz:
American Progress VP Topher Spiro:
Vox’s Matt Yglesias:
And many expressed anger, outrage, and some unique insight: