Columbia, SC (WLTX) — The decision by President Trump Tuesday to cancel a visit from the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles directly affected a Calhoun County native.
According to white House spokesperson Sarah Sanders, the Eagles changed their plans to visit the White House at the last minute by sending a much smaller group of team members. In response, she said the president decided to cancel the visit altogether.
Former Gamecock and current Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is a member of the team. He spends most of his offseason back in his hometown of St. Matthews in Calhoun County.
Ten-year-old Cecil Roberts, who lives in Calhoun County, says he still looks at Jeffery as a champion even without the White House visit.
"Absolutely. He made the first catch in the Super Bowl. He made some amazing catches, he had so many great plays. I think he's a champion," Roberts said.
"When he became a Philadelphia Eagle, we became Eagle fans,” said Cecil Thornton, owner of St. Matthews Furniture Company. “Flags went up all over town, and no one would take their flags down regardless of politics."
President Trump tweeted Monday night that only a small number of Eagles’ players decided to come to the White House, which led him to cancel the event.
Kingsley Walker, Jeffery’s cousin, felt the tweet was a political fumble.
“When I heard about it, I was like, wow. He actually dis-invited them to the White House. I don’t like that at all to be honest with you,” Walker says. “It’s kind of like being judgmental toward the situation. If I’m looking at it from President Trump’s aspect, he’s kind of judging -- like, since they don’t want to come, I won’t let any of them come. It shouldn’t be that way.”
With or without a visit to the White House, Jeffery is still looked up to by many in St. Matthews and Calhoun County.
“He came from Calhoun County, St. Matthews. Regardless of what happens in politics or issues like that, we still love Alshon.” Thornton said.
A military event was held at the White House Tuesday in place of the Eagles visit. Jeffery will be back in the St. Matthews area in a few weeks for his annual football camp.