ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith had sharp words of criticism for President Trump today after the White House welcomed the champion Clemson Tigers football team with a fast food dinner including McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King on Monday.
During Wednesday’s episode of ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith unloaded on the billionaire president for what he said was insufficient respect shown to the football team, whom he credited with a shocking performance in the college football playoffs this season.
“I think it was classless on the part of the president of the United States,” Smith said. “I don’t give a damn about, they’re talking about ‘White House employees are furloughed.'”
“At the end of the day, these are elite athletes, that are national champions, that put forth an absolutely shocking and stellar performance, and this is how you greet them?” Smith continued. “It’s disgraceful, it was classless, it was wrong to do, he could do better than that.”
Trump was the target of criticism this week over the dinner with the Clemson Tigers, which many said was disrespectful.
The team was later invited to restaurants operated by some of Trump’s critics.
The owner of Alinea, the highest-rated fine dining restaurant in Chicago, invited the college football national champion Clemson University Tigers to experience “what an actual celebration dinner should be” and promised a meal there would “be worth it.”
The invitation follows the White House celebration for the football team, where players were served fast food from Burger King, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Domino’s Pizza.
“I could care less about college football. But I’m personally inviting the Clemson Tigers team and coaches to Chicago to experience what an actual celebration dinner should be,” Nick Kokonas said in a tweet on Tuesday.
“I’m not joking. Someone let them know what The Alinea Group does. It’ll be worth it,” he continued.
“Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan also invited the team out to a “proper” dinner this week after photos of the White House event emerged on social media, while not directly criticizing the president.
“I would like to invite the Clemson Tigers football team here for a great meal,” Strahan said on his show this morning.
“Lobster, whatever you want, we’re gonna take care of you,” he added. “We’re gonna give you the proper meal that you deserve because that was one great game.”
ATTENTION @ClemsonFB: @michaelstrahan has a very important announcement for you! Should we expect to see you in Times Square for lobster AND caviar soon?#QTNA #GMADay https://t.co/W1vUNMab63 pic.twitter.com/fwPlNxERyb
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 15, 2019
The fact that Trump, a billionaire, would treat a National Championship team to just some fast food they could grab on the way home, has been unsettling to many Americans.