Trump needles NFL once more after rejecting SB champs - 'No escaping to the locker rooms!'
Of all the many things said about President Donald Trump, nobody has ever accused him of not trying to have the last word.
It’s a painful lesson that the NFL is learning all too slowly.
Following Colin Kaepernick’s lead, NFL players continue to kneel during the playing of the national anthem?
EXCLUSIVE: "You cannot disrespect our country" @POTUS interview w/ @seanhannity on Fox News Channel tonight at 9p ET https://t.co/kfXwIQlcrU pic.twitter.com/JrlifJMvMJ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 11, 2017
The NFL passes new rules that require NFL players to stand on the sidelines, but gives them the option to remain in the locker room?
“I don’t think people should be staying in locker rooms, but still I think it’s good. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there, maybe you shouldn’t be in the country,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends” shortly after the new policy was announced.
The Eagles are lashing out now that they were uninvited to the White House for the traditional champions’ visit? Clearly Trump wasn’t going to stay quiet.
On top of that, Trump threw in yet another barb against the NFL’s new national anthem policy.
“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!” Trump tweeted Tuesday.
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
“NFL, no escaping to the Locker Rooms!” he continued.
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, controversy rapidly ensued.
When some people started pointing out that maybe Trump uninvited the Eagles to save face because championship teams don’t want to meet him, Trump fired back immediately.
We have had many Championship teams recently at the White House including the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Penguins, New England Patriots, Alabama and Clemson National Champions, and many others. National Anthem & more great music today at 3:00 P.M.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2018
The New York Times reported that fewer than 10 Eagles players planned on attending the visit.
Of note, the biggest controversy to arise out of Trump’s squabble with the Eagles stemmed from Fox News’ coverage of the ordeal.
In a video that has since been scrubbed from Twitter and YouTube, Fox News ran a segment covering Trump uninviting the Eagles. Interspersed in that segment were various photos of Eagles players kneeling.
However, as many people pointed out, the photos of Eagles players kneeling were images of them praying before and after games, not during the national anthem. It was enough to trigger fiery responses from Eagles players Zach Ertz and Chris Long.
“This can’t be serious…. Praying before games with my teammates, well before the anthem, is being used for your propaganda?! Just sad, I feel like you guys should have to be better than this,” Ertz said on Twitter.
This can’t be serious…. Praying before games with my teammates, well before the anthem, is being used for your propaganda?! Just sad, I feel like you guys should have to be better than this… https://t.co/kYeyH2zXdK
— Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) June 5, 2018
“Imagine wanting to please the boss so very badly that you run stills of guys knelt down PRAYING during pregame. Not one Eagles player knelt for the anthem this yr. Keep carrying his water to sow division while misrepresenting Christian men. Aren’t many of your viewers.. nevermind,” Long said.
https://twitter.com/JOEL9ONE/status/1003990054505730048
In lieu of the Eagles visiting the White House, the Trump administration was set to hold a celebration to honor “the heroes who fight to protect” America.
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