Controversy between Trump, US sports champions grows deeper

United States president Donald Trump has held a so-called "patriotism" event in Washington to counter protests from players on the country's top professional gridiron and basketball teams. Each of the champions in the country's major team sports are traditionally invited to their own White House ceremony, but many players from the gridiron champions were not intending to attend and it appears the basketball champions will not either. The controversy comes amid concerns the rights of athletes to make public and political statements are being eroded.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders throws a football with kids at the White House Source: AAP