WASHINGTON (AP) — Digging deeper into a culture war that he’s repeatedly stoked, President Donald Trump called off a visit to the White House by the Philadelphia Eagles, citing the dispute over whether NFL players protesting racial injustice must stand during the playing of the national anthem. "The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow," the statement said, as quoted by CNN. The football team was “unable to come to the White House” on Tuesday, he said in a statement released late Monday night, adding: “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’s announcement came after some players had already said they planned to shun the White House visit. “The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better.”

Trump has repeatedly attacked players who choose to kneel or protest during the national anthem as unpatriotic, and applauded the decision by the NFL to fine teams for the upcoming season if any of their players refuse to stand during the anthem. In February, the Golden State Warriors declined to attend the White House ceremony honoring their 2017 NBA Championship, instead using their trip to Washington to visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture. And while 2020 is a long way away, he said, “I don’t think there’s any doubt that it’s not going to be helpful to him politically in this state.”

Sanders said the change-of-program was “not meant to be a slight to anyone.” Trump said in a statement Monday that some members of the Super Bowl championship team “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.”

He said the team wanted to send a smaller delegation Tuesday, but “the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better.”

Instead, Trump said he would be hosting “a different type of ceremony,” featuring the U.S. Marine Band and the U.S. Army Chorus, that “will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem.”

None of the Eagles took a knee during the anthem in 2017.
Donald Trump announces that he canceled his ceremony for the Super Bowl LII champion Philadelphia Eagles at the White House due to the National anthem protests controversy.