After the White House invited the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to visit the White House yesterday, the team has confirmed they are “working through the logistics” of making the trip to Washington D.C. on June 5.
As of now, there are at least three players the team won’t have to worry about accommodating because they won’t be attending the trip due to President Trump’s presence on Pennsylvania Avenue.
When news of the invitation broke on Thursday, outspoken Trump critics Malcolm Jenkins and Chris Long confirmed they would not be going to the White House when the team does.
Jenkins had previously said he wouldn’t make the trip if it was offered and doubled down on that statement on Thursday.
“At this point, I’m not interested in any discussions on anything right now just with the climate that’s been going on in The White House,” Jenkins said. “From a team standpoint, some guys have dreamed, you know, of being able to win a championship and take a visit to The White House and we’re not trying to deny that to anybody. There’s also a lot of guys who feel passionate about not going and so you have to try to find a balance that’s fair for everybody.”
Malcolm Jenkins tells NBC10 he DOES NOT plan to go to White House June 5. But will be in DC with teammates
President Trump has invited Eagles to visit to celebrate Super Bowl #FlyEaglesFly
pic.twitter.com/SxopmXJq7B— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) May 17, 2018
Long, who also skipped a White House visit when he was invited as a member of the New England Patriots, had similar sentiments. “At end of the day I do not want to sit, take a picture with somebody I don’t care for,” he said.
? Eagles DE Chris Long says he will NOT visit the White House and meet with President Trump on June 5th:
“At end of the day I do not want to sit, take a picture with somebody I don’t care for”@6abc #Eagles #Trump #WhiteHouse #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/fU5d1zYkSY
— Jeff Skversky 6abc (@JeffSkversky) May 17, 2018
Though he has yet to comment following the invitation, running back LeGarrette Blount also said he would skip a presidential visit. Like Long, he also passed on the invitation as a member of the Patriots. “I just don’t feel welcome into that house,” Blount said at the time.
Torrey Smith also said in the past he wouldn’t visit the White House while Trump was in it.
“For me, it’s not just about politics,” Smith previously told CNN. “If I told you that I was invited to a party by an individual I believe is sexist or has no respect for women or I told you that this individual has said offensive things towards many minority groups … this individual also called my peers and my friends SOB’s, you would understand why I wouldn’t want to go to that party. Why is it any different when the person has title of President of the United States.”
When the Patriots did visit the White House last year, only 34 members of the team ended up making the trip. Given the stances of Jenkins, Long and others, it would be surprising if that many Eagles attend next month.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
