These Philadelphia Eagles Are Refusing To Go To Trump’s White House
The NFL season came to a close last night after a highly entertaining Super Bowl saw Tom Brady and the Patriots narrowly defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles. While the game may have just ended, it seems that players are already thinking about the traditional White House celebration, which has become a beacon of controversy now that Trump is in office.
Players are seizing the opportunity to slight Trump by not showing up, and over the next few years, we’re sure to see a lot of absentees. As for the Super Bowl winners, a few have responded to the open invitation.
As reported at the New York Post, it hasn’t even been a day and already several Eagles’ players are wading into political waters and announcing they will not be visiting the White House to celebrate their victory with President Trump.
Don’t miss the next one
Join the Nation and get our briefing free, straight to your inbox.
The three Eagles’ players, safety Malcolm Jenkins, defensive end Chris Long, and receiver Torrey Smith have all said they won’t be attending.
“I personally do not anticipate attending that, ” Jenkins said during an interview Monday on CNN.
Asked if he had a message for Trump, the Pro Bowler said no.
“My message has been clear all year,” he said. “I’m about, you know, creating positive change in the communities that I come from, whether it be Philadelphia, New Jersey, Ohio, Louisiana or this entire country. ”
Long, who refused to attend after winning the Super Bowl with the Patriots last year, said he won’t be visiting this year either.
During the buildup to Super Bowl LII, Long volunteered that he wouldn’t take part in a White House ceremony should the Eagles win.
“No, I’m not going to the White House,” Long said on the “Pardon My Take” podcast for Barstool Sports. “Are you kidding me?”
Smith also said he won’t attend, shooting back at Trump’s criticism of players who took a knee during the playing of the national anthem last season as disrespecting the flag.
“They call it the anthem protest,” he said. “We’re not protesting the anthem. It’s a protest during the anthem. I understand why people are mad, or may be offended when someone takes a knee.”
It’s likely in the coming days even more Eagles’ players will be announcing their abstention as well, as it’s become the cool thing to do, turning down the White House visit. But at the end of the day, their petty protest of Trump won’t do anything for their little “resistance” movement. If anything, it’ll just add to the deluge of people tuning out the NFL.
Source: New York Post
