An Eagles Super Bowl champ called President Trump’s decision to exclude the team from Tuesday’s White House celebration a “cowardly act” — while Philadelphia’s mayor blasted the president as a “fragile egomaniac.”
Wide receiver Torrey Smith — who played on the Eagles during their 2017 championship season — said in a tweet the president was making a “foolish” move by disinviting his teammates.
“There are a lot of people on the team that have plenty of different views. The men and women that wanted to go should’ve been able to go,” wrote Smith, who is now a member of the Carolina Panthers.
“It’s a cowardly act to cancel the celebration because the majority of the people don’t want to see you. To make it about the anthem is foolish.”
Smith also added that “No one refused to go simply because Trump ‘insists’ folks stand for the anthem.”
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney mocked Trump’s decision while making clear that city hall was “always open for a celebration.”
“These are players who stand up for the causes they believe in and who contribute in meaningful ways to their community. They represent the diversity of our nation—a nation in which we are free to express our opinions,” the mayor said in a statement.
“Disinviting them from the White House only proves that our President is not a true patriot, but a fragile egomaniac obsessed with crowd size and afraid of the embarrassment of throwing a party to which no one wants to attend.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) said if the Eagles are not at the White House, then he won’t show up for “this political stunt.”
“I’m proud of what the @Eagles accomplished this year,” Casey tweeted.
“I’m skipping this political stunt at the White House and just invited the Eagles to Congress. @Eagles How about a tour of the Capitol?”
Hours earlier, the White House said it will be holding a celebration without any members of the team — after most decided not to attend.
Instead, the president said he will hold a “different type of ceremony — one that will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem.”
