--- ---  # Man Kneels During the National Anthem at President Trump's White House Event by [Mahita Gajanan](https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Jun 5, 2018 10:17 PM UTC  WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 05: U.S. President Donald Trump concludes his remarks during a "Celebration of America" event on the south lawn of the White House June 5, 2018 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 kneeling during the national anthem. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 05: U.S. President Donald Trump concludes his remarks during a "Celebration of America" event on the south lawn of the White House June 5, 2018 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 kneeling during the national anthem. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 05: U.S. President Donald Trump concludes his remarks during a "Celebration of America" event on the south lawn of the White House June 5, 2018 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 kneeling during the national anthem. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) by [Mahita Gajanan](https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Jun 5, 2018 10:17 PM UTC A man was seen kneeling while the national anthem played during a White House ceremony organized by President Trump after he [disinvited the Philadelphia Eagles from the traditional championship celebration](http://time.com/5301170/philadelphia-eagles-not-attend-white-house-super-bowl-celebration-national-anthem/) on Tuesday. The unidentified man was spotted kneeling during national anthem at Trump’s “Celebration of America.” He left after the anthem ended and did not comment to press, a Danish reporter who was at the event tweeted. Video footage of the man shows him getting up after the anthem ends. > [](https://twitter.com/zolckTv2/status/1004078459910606848) The man’s kneeling protest comes amid the on-going controversy over whether [NFL players can kneel during the national anthem](http://time.com/5301170/philadelphia-eagles-not-attend-white-house-super-bowl-celebration-national-anthem/) in protest of police brutality. In May, the NFL said it would fine players who choose to kneel on the field during the anthem. The White House event on Tuesday was held in place of a traditional ceremony where the president welcomes that year’s Super Bowl champions. After several Philadelphia Eagles players said they would not attend the celebration, citing Trump’s consistent criticism of athletes who kneel in protest, Trump said he was disinviting them due to their disagreement with him. Trump has frequently tweeted [criticism of athletes and NFL players who kneel](http://time.com/5301572/nflpa-responds-donald-trump-criticizes-eagles/), painting them as unpatriotic and calling for them to be fired. 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