NFL chief, NBA stars slam Trump
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US Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks at the US Department of Justice during an announcement about leaking of classified information on August 4, 2017 in Washington, DC.
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday condemned the 'staggering number' of leaks emanating from President Donald Trump's administration, as he vowed a crackdown on people revealing classified or sensitive national security information. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
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A man watches a television news programme showing US President Donald Trump at a railway station in Seoul on August 9, 2017.
President Donald Trump issued an apocalyptic warning to North Korea on Tuesday, saying it faces "fire and fury" over its missile program, after US media reported Pyongyang has successfully miniaturized a nuclear warhead. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
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US President Donald Trump participates in a tax reform kickoff event at the Loren Cook Company in Springfield, MO, on August 30, 2017. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
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President Donald Trump pauses while speaking at a rally at the Phoenix Convention Center, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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US President Donald Trump applauds during a rally for Sen. Luther Strange (R-AL) at the Von Braun Civic Center September 22, 2017 in Huntsville, Alabama. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Trump: Fire 'son of a b*tch' anthem protester
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Trump rescinds NBA team's WH invitation
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TRUMP S korea
Trump: Trade deal with S. Korea bad for US
trump alabama rally 2
Trump: Media attacked Melania over her shoes
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks at the US Department of Justice during an announcement about leaking of classified information on August 4, 2017 in Washington, DC.
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday condemned the 'staggering number' of leaks emanating from President Donald Trump's administration, as he vowed a crackdown on people revealing classified or sensitive national security information. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
NYT: Trump told Sessions to resign, called him an 'idiot'
A man watches a television news programme showing US President Donald Trump at a railway station in Seoul on August 9, 2017.
President Donald Trump issued an apocalyptic warning to North Korea on Tuesday, saying it faces "fire and fury" over its missile program, after US media reported Pyongyang has successfully miniaturized a nuclear warhead. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
Trump's weeks of bluster on North Korea
US President Donald Trump participates in a tax reform kickoff event at the Loren Cook Company in Springfield, MO, on August 30, 2017. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Trump's twists and turns on DACA
trump visits houston hurricane harvey victim response _00003510.jpg
Trump: Harvey victims happy with response
President Donald Trump pauses while speaking at a rally at the Phoenix Convention Center, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Trump to McConnell: We must pass legislation
Trump predicts NAFTA termination
donald trump alabama rally nfl owners flag sot _00010710.jpg
Trump: I wish NFL owners respected US flag
Trump rally Media crowd CNN sot_00000000.jpg
Trump: Media won't show crowd (as CNN does)
Trump calls out McCain for health care vote
US President Donald Trump applauds during a rally for Sen. Luther Strange (R-AL) at the Von Braun Civic Center September 22, 2017 in Huntsville, Alabama. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Trump: Fire 'son of a b*tch' anthem protester
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Trump rescinds NBA team's WH invitation
trump rally alabama
Trump: No, Russia did not help me win
Trump on N. Korea threat: You are protected
Trump: You'd turn over your rifles to Clinton
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
The President, NFL commissioner and top basketball players are embroiled in a public fight over patriotism
Trump's tweets and harsh reaction highlight an extraordinary moment
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump came under harsh criticism Saturday from the NFL and some of the NBA's top players after he blasted prominent athletes for kneeling during the national anthem and refusing to come to the White House, putting himself in the center of a controversy with significant racial and cultural undertones.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell slammed Trump in a statement Saturday morning, calling the President "divisive" for remarks he made at a rally in Alabama Friday night, while one of the most famous athletes in the world, LeBron James, called Trump a "bum" for his Saturday morning tweet uninviting Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry from visiting the White House.
The Golden State Warriors issued a statement later Saturday accepting Trump's dis-invitation.
"While we intended to meet as a team at the first opportunity we had this morning to collaboratively discuss a potential visit to the White House, we accept that President Trump has made it clear that we are not invited," the team said.
The statement added that while the team will not be visiting the White House, its players will still come to the nation's capital in February "to celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion — the values that we embrace as an organization."
Former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant also tweeted a rebuke of Trump.
"A #POTUS whose name alone creates division and anger. Whose words inspire dissension and hatred can't possibly 'Make America Great Again,'" Bryant wrote.
Trump responded to the criticisms Saturday in a series of tweets, saying that playing for a sports league is a "privilege" and that players should not be able to disrespect the American flag or the US without risking being "fired."
"If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect ...." Trump tweeted. "Our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!"
Later, he added of Goodell's criticism: "Roger Goodell of NFL just put out a statement trying to justify the total disrespect certain players show to our country. Tell them to stand!"
Roger Goodell of NFL just put out a statement trying to justify the total disrespect certain players show to our country.Tell them to stand!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
Trump's tweets and harsh reaction highlight an extraordinary moment -- the President, NFL commissioner and top basketball players embroiled in a public fight over unity and patriotism.
Goodell said Trump's criticism of NFL players kneeling in protest during the National Anthem showed a "lack of respect" for the league and its players.
"The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture," Goodell said in the statement. "There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we've experienced over the last month. Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities."
New York Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch called Trump's NFL comments "inappropriate" on Saturday.
"Comments like we heard last night from the president are inappropriate, offensive and divisive," their statement said. "We are proud of our players, the vast majority of whom use their NFL platform to make a positive difference in our society."
Trump's remarks at rally
At Alabama GOP Sen. Luther Strange's campaign rally Friday, Trump said team owners should fire players for taking a knee during the national anthem. He added that if fans would "leave the stadium" when players kneel in protest during the national anthem, "I guarantee, things will stop."
Trump appeared to be referring to Colin Kaepernick -- formerly with the San Francisco 49ers, but currently without a team -- who last year drew national attention for refusing to stand during "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to kickoff.
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in August 2016.
Then, on Saturday morning, Trump tweeted that Curry's invitation to the White House was revoked.
"Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!" Trump wrote.
Curry had remarked at the Warriors' media day Friday that he doesn't want to attend the White House ceremony scheduled to commemorate the title.
"'By acting and not going, hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to,'' Curry told reporters. ''It's not just the act of not going. There are things you have to do on the back end to actually push that message into motion."
Athletes, entertainers respond
James was among the first athletes to respond to Trump on Saturday.
"U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going!" James tweeted. "So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!"
Many of the reactions to Trump's tweets highlighted the underlying racial tensions some consider at issue.
ESPN anchor Jemele Hill tweeted to Curry, "Hey @StephenCurry30, welcome to the club bro."
Last week, Trump demanded an apology on Twitter for a series of tweets Hill had sent describing Trump as a white supremacist. Later White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Fox News that Hill's tweets were "highly inappropriate, and I think ESPN should take actions."
Singer-songwriter John Legend also tweeted about Trump Saturday saying of Curry's decision, "Perhaps it's not a great honor while your stench is there.'
Legend continued with a series of tweets aimed at the President.
"Trump thrives on division and chaos. He wants to pit us against each other because he thinks his side can win (w/voter suppression, etc.)," Legend tweeted later in the afternoon.
In a video released Saturday afternoon, music producer and rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs called for members of the NFL to do something "really great" on Sunday, when most of the week's football games will be played. He added: "You all represent us."
"If you do whatever you do in unity, you can't be stopped," Combs said in the video. "Just do the math man. Stick together, stand up together, rally for each other. Because believe me, we're all we got -- it has nothing to do with football and business."
Combs later tweeted from his personal account, "THE LINE HAS BEEN CROSSED!!!! Time to show them #blackexcellence LETS GO! #teamlove REPRESENT REPRESENT!"
He added a split photo that at the top showed white supremacists holding Confederate and Nazi flags under the words "very fine people" -- a reference to Trump's description of both white supremacist protesters and counterprotesters after the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month -- and at the bottom three 49ers players taking a knee during the national anthem under the words "Sons of Bitches."
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Trump's tweet about Curry and whether the invitation will be withdrawn.
CNN's Eric Bradner contributed to this report.
