Do not count on Devante Smith-Pelly attending a White House celebration with President Donald Trump if the Washington Capitals go on to win their first Stanley Cup.
‘The things that he spews are straight-up racist and sexist,’ Canada’s Postmedia quoted Smith-Pelly as saying Wednesday as the Capitals prepared for Thursday’s Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights, where Washington can capture the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
‘Some of the things he’s said are pretty gross. I’m not too into politics, so I don’t know all his other views, but his rhetoric I definitely don’t agree with. It hasn’t come up here, but I think I already have my mind made up.’
Smith-Pelly, one of two black Capitals players, is from the Toronto area.
Devante Smith-Pelly absolutely refuses to go to the White House if the Capitals win the Cup
President Donald Trump sings the national anthem with a U.S. Army chorus during a ‘Celebration of America’ event on the south lawn of the White House on June 5 in Washington, DC. The event, originally intended to honor the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, was changed after the majority of the team declined to attend the event due to a disagreement with Trump over NFL players protesting inequality by kneeling during the national anthem
The Capitals lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, and can hoist the Cup on Thursday night.
Smith-Pelly was speaking two days after Trump canceled the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles’ visit to the White House, and a day after NBA stars LeBron James and Curry both said they wouldn’t visit.
The 25-year-old has scored in the last two games of the finals and had six goals – two of them winners – and an assist in the playoffs. He had seven goals in 75 games in the regular season.
A bruising winger, Smith-Pelly said he’s not ‘too into politics’ but didn’t hesitate to criticize what he described as President Donald Trump’s racist and sexist statements
Trump has not had any public issues with the NHL. In fact, he welcomed the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins to the White House in October.
However, Trump has butted heads with the NFL over players protesting inequality by kneeling during the national anthem, and to a lesser degree, NBA players who have publicly criticized him.
This week, after it was learned that only a small contingent of Philadelphia Eagles players planned on attending a scheduled event at the White House, Trump publicly withdrew his invitation to the team on Twitter.
In a statement, the White House suggested that the Eagles players objected to Trump’s insistence that they stand for the national anthem. However, this statement was misleading as every Eagles player stood for The Star-Spangled Banner during the regular season and postseason.
Instead the White House held a brief concert with the United States Marine Band and the United States Army Chorus with a crowd of alleged Eagles fans in attendance.
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (seen here in 2017) started the protests to raise awareness about inequality and police brutality against minorities
Both Warriors coach Steve Kerr (left) and LeBron James have been critical of Donald Trump
Stephen Curry has been a vocal critic of Trump, saying he does not want a White House invite
However, as Philly.com and several other outlets reported, many of those fans turned out to be Republican National Committee staffers.
‘We’re all staffers,’ said Jenna Webster, an RNC intern, while explaining that she received a mass email invitation from the White House earlier in the day.
Beginning with now-former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016, NFL players have protested police brutality against minorities and inequality by kneeling, sitting, or raising a fist during the national anthem.
Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly (No. 25) celebrates his goal as he skates past the Vegas Golden Knights bench during the first period in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup
Trump has been a vocal critic, calling the protesting players ‘sons of b******’ while suggesting fans boycott the league over the issue.
The NFL seemingly capitulated to Trump recently by changing its national anthem policy. Now players can stay in the locker room if they choose – a reversal of a league policy instituted in 2009 – but any team personnel on the field during the anthem is required to stand and show what the league deems to be proper respect for the flag.
The new policy sparked nation-wide protests from citizen groups who were concerned that the NFL was denying players their first-amendment rights.
In September, after Curry publicly stated that he, personally, did not want to make the customary trip to the White House, Trump publicly rescinded his invitation to the reigning NBA champion Warriors.
James, whose Cavaliers lost the Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals and currently trail those same Warriors 3-0 in this year’s finals meeting, defended Curry on Twitter at the time, calling Trump a ‘bum.’
‘U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going!’ James Tweeted. ‘So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to the White House was a great honor until you showed up!’
Donald Trump previously withdrew an invitation to the Golden State Warriors after Stephen Curry hesitated when asked if he would be in attendance last September