Donald Trump rips NFL's anthem policy in tweets: 'NFL, no escaping to Locker Rooms!'

Tom Schad USA TODAY Sports

Published 12:44 p.m. UTC Jun 5, 2018

President Donald Trump continued to attack the NFL on Twitter on Tuesday morning, roughly 12 hours after rescinding the Philadelphia Eagles' invitation to the White House.

In one of two tweets about the matter early Tuesday, the president criticized the league's revised national-anthem policy, which requires that players stand if they choose to be on the field during the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner but also allows them to remain in the locker room.

"NFL, no escaping to Locker Rooms!" Trump wrote.

Trump had previously praised the new policy in an interview with Fox News less than two weeks ago.

MORE: Trump canceling Eagles' White House visit shows NFL failed on anthem policy

MORE: Trump cancels White House invitation for Super Bowl champion Eagles

MORE: Ex-Eagles WR Torrey Smith: Trump's cancellation 'a cowardly act'

The president's Tuesday tweets also previewed the revised ceremony that was scheduled to take place at the White House in lieu of the Eagles' visit. The White House announced Monday night that the ceremony would instead feature the playing of the national anthem and what Trump described Tuesday morning as "other wonderful music celebrating our country."

"We have had many Championship teams recently at the White House including the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Penguins, New England Patriots, Alabama and Clemson National Champions, and many others," Trump wrote in one tweet. "National Anthem & more great music today at 3:00 P.M."

He later added: "....@NASCAR and Champion @MartinTruex_Jr were recently at the White House. It was a great day for a great sport!"

Fewer than 10 Eagles players had planned to attend Tuesday's ceremony, according to multiple media reports. While Trump has framed his decision to rescind their invitation as a matter related to protests during the national anthem, The Washington Post reported that he "deemed the smaller crowd unsatisfactory," which led to the change. CNN also reported Tuesday that Trump was "infuriated" that only a few Eagles had planned to attend.

No Eagles players kneeled during the national anthem in 2017, though some have been supportive of the protests, which players involved have generally described as a means of protesting racial inequality and police brutality.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

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