A White House celebration of the NFL champion Philadelphia Eagles has been called off by President Donald Trump, who says fans deserve better than the smaller delegation the team was sending to the event planned for Tuesday.
Trump is citing the dispute over NFL players refusing to stand during the national anthem.
Philadelphia’s Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney retaliated by saying Trump was “not a true patriot” after the Eagles were disinvited from the White House on Monday.
In a statement issued Monday less than 24 hours before the event, Trump says some members of the team disagree with his insistence that they “proudly stand” for the national anthem in honor of military veterans and the nation as a whole.
Trump says a different ceremony will honor veterans and the nation instead at the White House on Tuesday.
Trump tweeted: “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!”
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
The NFL recently announced a new policy requiring players to stand for the anthem if they’re on the field before a game or otherwise remain in the locker room.
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The Associated Press contributed to this article.