According to a new report from The Root, nearly 75 percent of the black players on Clemson’s national champion football team did not visit the White House to eat fast food with President Trump.
While black and white players, citing racism and their dislike for Trump’s politics, skipped the White House meal, it was black players who overwhelmingly turned down the invitation.
“It wasn’t like we had a team meeting or anything,” said an offensive star who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Players were talking amongst each other but everybody was like: ‘I’m not going to that.’”
Coaches didn’t pressure players to attend, but at least one player told The Root some felt pressured to attend because they felt skipping the visit might affect their scholarships or playing time.
The players who did visit were served a menu of items from McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Domino’s featuring pizzas, salads, chicken nuggets, fries, and 300 burger sandwiches.
Reverend Jesse Jackson, a Clemson fan, said the meal of fast food was “beneath the status of their accomplishment.”
“The national champions deserved better,” Jackson said. “It was disgraceful,” he said. “Many people felt offended by it. I felt offended by it.”
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