4 takeaways on Donald Trump's absolutely appalling statement on the Eagles' White House visit [View all]

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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