The mayor of Philadelphia responded to the decision by President Donald Trump on Monday to cancel the Eagles' invitation to the White House, and he was not happy.
"The Eagles call the birthplace of our democracy home, so it's no surprise that this team embodies everything that makes our country and our city great," said Mayor Jim Kenney in the statement.
"Their athletic accomplishments on the field led to an historic victory this year," he continued. "Fans all across the country rallied behind them because we like to root for the underdog and we feel joy when we see the underdogs finally win. I'm equally proud of the Eagles' activism off the field."
"These are players who stand up for the causes they believe in and who contribute in meaningful ways to their community," Kenney added. "They represent the diversity of our nation — a nation in which we are free to express our opinions."
"Disinviting them from the White House only proves that our President is not a true patriot," Kenney charged, "but a fragile egomaniac obsessed with crowd size and afraid of the embarrassment of throwing a party to which no one wants to attend."
"City Hall is always open for a celebration," he concluded.
President Trump appeared to disinvite the NFL team to the customary celebratory visit every year for the NFL's Super Bowl championship team. Some players on the team had publicly said they would avoid the visit in protest of the president's policies.
“They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem,” the president said in the statement, “hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.”
Some, like conservative pollster Frank Luntz, noted that no players on the Philadelphia Eagles kneeled during the national anthem last season when the controversial protests reached their height.
Trump indicated in the statement that there would be an alternate ceremony at the White House to celebrate the military and honor the country.
