The Latest on President Donald Trump’s cancellation of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ visit to the White House (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins says NFL players who have been speaking out politically are fighting for racial and social equality Joe Kelly Jersey , not disparaging the national anthem.

Jenkins issued a lengthy statement on Twitter on Tuesday after the White House disinvited the Eagles from an event originally intended to honor the Super Bowl champions. President Donald Trump has framed the decision around the national anthem and his repeated arguments that NFL players should be required to stand on the field when the song is played before games.

Jenkins says the White House made a decision ”to lie, and paint the picture that these players are anti-America, anti-flag and anti-military.”

He says he will ”continue to fight for impacted citizens and give a voice to those who never had one.”

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3:20 p.m.

President Donald Trump has held a ”patriotism” event at the White House in lieu of a Super Bowl celebration for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles that he canceled.

The president said Tuesday on the South Lawn that it’s time to ”explain why young Americans stand for our national anthem.”

Trump sang along to ”The Star-Spangled Banner” and ”God Bless America” during a brief ceremony that included the U.S. Marine Band and the U.S. Army chorus.

Trump did not mention the Eagles. He accused players of abandoning their fans because many had said they wouldn’t show up. Late Monday, he canceled the event because of the anticipated low turnout.

The president says that the nation needs to remember the ”fallen heroes” and that the country stands together ”for freedom, we stand together for patriotism.”

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2:55 p.m.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says it was the Philadelphia Eagles, not President Donald Trump, ”who changed their commitment at the last minute” to a White House Super Bowl celebration. Trump had been prepared to host the Eagles Tuesday, but announced Monday he was canceling the event.

Earlier, the White House said that the team notified the White House last week that 81 people, including players, coaches and managers would be attending. But late Friday, the team tried to reschedule, proposing a time when Trump would be overseas.

In the end, Sanders says the Eagles offered to send ”only a tiny handful of representatives” to the event Jeremy Kerley Color Rush Jersey , ”while making clear that the great majority of players would not attend.”

She says, ”if this wasn’t a political stunt by the Eagles franchise, then they wouldn’t have planned to attend the event and then backed out at the last minute.”

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12:10 p.m.

The White House is blaming the Philadelphia Eagles for President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel a planned White House event celebrating the team’s Super Bowl championship.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the team last Thursday notified the White House that 81 individuals, including players, coaches and managers would be attending.

However, the team got back in touch with the White House late Friday and tried to reschedule, proposing a time when Trump would be overseas.

In the end, she says the Eagles offered to send ”only a tiny handful of representatives” to the event, ”while making clear that the great majority of players would not attend.”

She says, ”In other words, the vast majority of the Eagles team decided to abandon their fans,” prompting Trump to cancel.

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11:50 a.m.

Fox News is apologizing for airing footage that wrongly suggested Philadelphia Eagles players knelt during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.

Christopher Wallace, executive producer of ”Fox News (at) Night,” says in a statement that during the show’s report about President Donald Trump canceling the Eagles’ visit on Tuesday to the White House to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl win Lamar Jackson Youth Jersey , the show displayed ”unrelated footage of players kneeling in prayer.”

He says, ”To clarify, no members of the team knelt in protest during the national anthem throughout regular or post-season last year,” adding: ”We apologize for the error.”

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9:35 a.m.

The NFL Players Association says President Donald Trump’s decision to scrap a White House visit for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles led to the cancellation of several smaller community events in the Washington area the Eagles players were to lead.

The players union said in a statement Tuesday that it is disappointed by the decision and that NFL players ”love their country, support our troops, give back to their communities and strive to make America a better place.”

The Eagles plan to resume organized team activities in Philadelphia, though the early practice in preparation for the season is not expected to be open to reporters.

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8:55 a.m.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is criticizing President Donald Trump for canceling the White House celebration of the Eagles’ Super Bowl win and for panning players who refuse to stand for the National Anthem.

Kenney, a Democrat, said of Trump on Tuesday morning on CNN: ”When he had the opportunity to serve his country for real, his father got him out of it, and I think it’s really disingenuous for him to talk about patriotism in any way shape or form.”

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LAST YEAR: Bears finished last in NFC North for fourth straight year Authentic Terrelle Pryor Sr. Jersey , then fired coach John Fox after three losing seasons. GM Ryan Pace got contract extension through 2021 and hired Andy Reid protege Matt Nagy as head coach, hoping he gets most out of QB Mitchell Trubisky. Wide receivers were big weakness, with Cameron Meredith (left knee) out for season and Kevin White (shoulder) missing most of it. Chicago’s leading receiver was Kendall Wright – now with Minnesota – with 59 receptions for 614 yards. Bears had formidable RB tandem with Jordan Howard (1,122 yards) and Tarik Cohen (370 yards rushing, 353 receiving), though Howard struggled to catch passes. Defense ranked 10th overall despite injuries to several key players, including LB Leonard Floyd.

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EXPECTATIONS: Bears, coming off fourth straight season with 10 or more losses, haven’t finished above .500 since 2012. Chicago has one playoff appearance since 2006 Super Bowl appearance. Bears are banking on Trubisky after surrounding him with playmakers and coaches they think will help him reach his potential. Chicago also added possible cornerstone at inside linebacker by drafting Smith, who led Georgia to national championship game last season.

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