Meghan McCain slams Eagles: ‘I don’t like how political sports has gotten’

Meghan McCain slammed the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday following reports that most of the team’s athletes were planning to skip a Tuesday visit to the White House before President Trump canceled it. 

“I think when you get invited to the White House you should go, period,” McCain said during a segment of “The View.” “I think the White House and the presidency is bigger than one man. I don’t like how political sports has gotten, we’ve talked about that many times on the show.”

McCain’s remarks come a day after Trump abruptly announced Monday the Super Bowl champions would not be visiting the White House. Trump cited the team’s participation in national anthem protests in his decision to disinvite the team from visiting the White House.

On Tuesday, the White House blamed the small size of the planned Eagles contingent.

“Unfortunately, the Eagles offered to send only a tiny handful of representatives, while making clear that the great majority of players would not attend the event, despite planning to be in D.C. today,” the administration said.

“I know it’s a different time, but I do think sports should bring us together, and I think when you’re invited to the White House, I don’t care who you are, it’s an incredible experience, and I wish we could table it and just come together in one way or another,” McCain said. “What you’re talking about with the anthem, it is a total culture war, ground zero for him to be using to gin up his base.” {mosads}

Players have kneeled or sat during the past two seasons as part of a movement sparked by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to protest police brutality and racial inequality.

Trump has criticized players for the protest, and recently praised the NFL’s new policy that requires athletes to stand during the anthem the coming season, or face a fine. Players also have the option to remain in the locker room.

Trump attacked Kaepernick and other players protesting in September, saying team owners should “get that son of a bitch off the field” when a player kneels. Dozens of players across the league took a knee in protest of Trump’s comments in the weeks after.

Still, even with the new policy in place, the president has continued to attack those who don’t stand for the anthem.

The Philadelphia Eagles Football Team was invited to the White House. Unfortunately, only a small number of players decided to come, and we canceled the event. Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2018

However, contrary to Trump’s assertions, no members of the Philadelphia Eagles have kneeled in protest over the last season.

McCain added on Tuesday that she still believes in the office of the presidency despite her own criticism of Trump.

“I think one of the things that I have to stay true to right now is that I do believe in America and the presidency and the White House in a much greater way than I do this president,” she said. “When you give him this much power, that he is so horrible and horrific that you stop believing in America and the White House, I think that’s where my problem comes into play.”