4 takeaways on Donald Trump's absolutely appalling statement on the Eagles' White House visit

[workinclasszero]

Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large
Updated 7:58 AM ET, Tue June 5, 2018

(CNN)-On Monday night, Donald Trump decided to uninvite the Philadelphia Eagles from the White House because some members of the Super Bowl champs weren't planning to attend Tuesday's ceremony due to disagreements with the President.

Here's the key part of the statement

"The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow. They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country. The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better."

Make no mistake about what Trump is doing here: He is appointing himself the arbiter of what patriotism is and means to the 300+ million citizens of the United States. Patriotism is standing for the National Anthem before NFL football games. If you don't stand, you are -- by Trump's thinking via the statement above -- dishonoring not only the "great men and women of our military" but also the "people of our country."

And he's saying something else: If you don't meet my standard of patriotism, you don't get to come to my house.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/04/politics/donald-trump-eagles/index.html

[workinclasszero]

1. Draft dodger Commander Bone Spurs thinks he gets to define patriotism

What a crock of SHIT!

As he and his traitor GOP party sells out America to the Russian dictator!!!!

[heaven05]

2. trump is

the hero of 66+million people in his totally fucked up political party. That's it. He is the preszident of those people and that's it. He's made it plain that this is true. Fuck trump. What a total POS.

[workinclasszero]

5. Most evil POS that ever got to the white house by miles

that's for damn sure!

The SOB is dividing and weakening this country on orders from Vladimir Putin, I have no doubt!!

[oberliner]

3. None of the Eagles players kneeled during the anthem

At any point during the season.

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. That's why, although it's good that Cillizza attacks Trump for this, it's even worse than he says

It's not that Trump is claiming to define patriotism as "standing for the national anthem when I tell them to", Trump is saying "they're not patriotic because they disagree with me on my policies and personal behaviour".

[spanone]

4. the POS-in-Chief

[C_U_L8R]

6. Trump demands fealty

Only the subservient need apply.

[Marcuse]

7. He hates P.O.W.s

[ProudMNDemocrat]

8. Somoene should remind DICKtator Donnie that the White House.....

also belongs to the People. We pay the rent on it. It is not a PALACE for him alone.

[Tipperary]

9. That house is in NO way "his."

[Mc Mike]

14. + 1000, thanks.

[HopeAgain]

10. Patriotism includes the enlistment of a hostile foreign power

to seize the most powerful elected office? Huh...

[tavernier]

11. Puerto Rico.

This could be our “But Her Emails” whenever the press tries to steer us off Rump’s murderous agendas. Whenever they focus on his idiotic tweets, we should hit them with Puerto Rico. Or Dead Students. Or Caged Children.

[workinclasszero]

15. "Puerto Rico. Or Dead Students. Or Caged Children."

Trump's Fourth Reich is really coming into view now, two years in.

What kind of fresh hell Dump will bring next two years I can only have nightmares about.

[Wounded Bear]

12. Group punishment is a hallmark of authoritarianism...

and a favorite of RWers too.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

13. "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." -- Samuel Johnson

To Donnie Two Scoops, it would seem there are two parts of honoring the Flag: (1) standing for the National Anthem, and (2) actually knowing the words to the National Anthem. Trump failed the second test:

[FakeNoose]

16. The solution could have been so simple

Cheeto is such an asshole and he demonstrates it in everything he does. All they needed to do was change the song to "God Bless America" and not make a big deal about saluting the flag. But no, we have to have all this drama and douchbaggery.

I posted yesterday that I'm very happy the Philadelphia Eagles stuck to their decision and refused to come. And I'm a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, there is very little love for the Eagles in Pittsburgh - during football season that is. We're proud that Pennsylvania has two awesome teams on both sides of the state.

[RockaFowler]

17. Cris Carter had a great response

Link to tweet

President Obama should invite the Eagles to his house for a barbecue.

4:50 PM - 4 Jun 2018

[workinclasszero]

18. Great idea!

[fishwax]

20. for some reason the "their president" bit is what made me most uneasy about this

It's one thing for a president or a candidate to frame promises that way ("as your president, I will fight to ...&quot and quite another to frame demands that way.

[Solly Mack]

21. You're either with us or against us

You either hate America (against us) or you love America (with us).

Same shit, different asshole.