Cancelling a customary White House visit after winning the 2018 Super Bowl Feb. 5, 71-year-old President Donald Trump explained his decision after most the Eagles’ black athletes rejected the White House invite. National Football League [NFL] officials view the White House visit a great honor to America’s most popular game, broadcast all over the world on the United States Armed Services Radio and TV network. Trump became embroiled in the kneeling controversy in 2017 when he said NFL player refusing to stand during the National Anthem disgraced the flag and should be fired by owners. NFL Players Association Director [NFLPA] Director DeMaurice Smith rejected Trump’s view that players kneeling during the National Anthem disrespected the flag. DeMaurice insists that Trump and NFL owners compromised the Free Speech rights of NFL players.
Trump cancelled the meeting yesterday when it became clear that most of the Eagles’ black athletes view Trump as a racist, wanting no part of any White House visit. Whether admitted to or not, the U.S. black community hasn’t gotten over the end of President Barack Obama’s White House. Watching the end of Obama’s presidency triggered a national revolt against the Trump White House, viewed by many blacks and Latinos as biased against minorities. Trump threw himself into the NFL Anthem-kneeling controversy Sept. 23, 2017, telling owners to “get those sons-of-a-bitches off the field,” fueling the kind of hatred from black NFL players boycotting the White House meeting. Trump cancelled the Eagles’ visit today, knowing that most, if not all the black players, would not attend any White House meeting, branding Trump as a racist.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny slammed Trump publicly June 4 for pulling the Eagles’ White House invitation. “Disinviting them to the White House only proves that our president is not a true patriot, but a fragile egomaniac, obsessed with crowd size and afraid of embarrassment of throwing a party to which no one wants to attend,” tweeted Kenny. Kenny totally misunderstands Trump’s position on former San Francisco Forty-Niners’ Quarterback Colin Kaepernick who started kneeling Aug. 14, 2016 after high-profile police shootings of Alton Sterling [July 3, 2016] and Philando Castillo [July 5, 2016]. “I’m not going to stand up and show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” said Kaepernick.
Kaepernick’s kneeling during the National Anthem prompted fans to tune out the NFL, losing 10% viewership in 2017. While the NFL Players Association insists that kneeling does not disrespect the flag—and all that it stands for—Kaepernick said clearly he could not in clear conscience stand for the Anthem when “people of color” are bleeding in the streets. When Obama complained of police brutality and criminal justice reform from the Oval Office, it’s no wonder Kaepernick felt entitled to take a knee. With Obama gone, the black community—especially high profile athletes—rebelled against Trump’s presidency, refusing to attend a White House celebration. Before he cancelled the Eagles’ White House event, Trump knew that most the black players refused to attend. Philadelphia Mayor Kenny went overboard calling Trump “unpatriotic” and “egotistical” for cancelling the Eagles.
When the NFL changed its National Anthem policy May 23, telling players to stay off the field if they plan to not stand, players only became more antagonistic, blaming the NF for compromises the civil rights of its players. Yet the NFL’s legal experts made clear to team there’s no violation of players Free Speech rights. Kaepernick blames police shootings of people of color on racist white police officers when, in fact, many of the blacks killed during police skirmishes are by black police officers. But let there be no mistake, the Eagles’ boycott of their White House visit stemmed less from the National Anthem issue then from the black majority painting the president as a racist. Eagles’ players made a point that they didn’t kneel once in the 2017 season, confirming they boycotted for a different reason. Accusing Trump of racism has no basis in reality.
Trump cancelled the Eagles’ White House visit because 90% of the Eagles’ team decided to boycott. Eagles’ black players believe Trump’s a racist, refusing to participate in any White House activity. Battling for the NBA title, both the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers said neither team would attend a White House meeting, citing the same issues related to Trump’s alleged racism. Politicians like Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny should examine his own political biases before unloading on Trump. When Trump won the presidency Nov. 8, 2016, it was a painful blow to the black community, used to Obama’s two terms. Instead of accepting the election results, Democrats—and their media friends—have demonized Trump since getting elected. Black NFL players can perform all the political activism they want as long as it’s off the NFL clock.
