President Trump's abrupt cancellation of the Philadelphia Eagles' visit to the White House -- which carries a "You can't quit, you're fired!" tinge amid reports that fewer than 10 Eagles players planned to attend anyway -- apparently isn't the first time he's been angered prior to a scheduled visit of a Super Bowl champion.
The New England Patriots -- and specifically Tom Brady -- had Trump fuming last year, too.
Trump grew angry in April 2017 when Tom Brady said he planned to skip the White House visit with the Patriots, huddling angrily with aides and even calling Patriots owner Robert Kraft. One former senior administration official described a chaotic scene unfolding over the heartlands of America, as Trump flew back from an event in Wisconsin. Trump made a number of calls and asked aides to help fix the situation, worried that Brady’s absence would reflect poorly on him.
Brady later said he skipped the event to be with his ailing mother, while another half-dozen Patriots skipped to protest Trump.
Eventually, Trump was calmed down, and the Patriots came to the White House.