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Cubs' Maddon: Athletes not respecting White House 'not a good situation'

Matt Marton / USA TODAY Sports

Warning: Story contains coarse language

President Donald Trump drew the ire of several American athletes Friday when he ripped anthem protesters in the NFL before retracting a White House invitation to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors after point guard Steph Curry announced he would not attend.

But Chicago Cubs skipper Joe Maddon, whose World Series-winning team visited former U.S. President Barack Obama in January before visiting once again during Trump's term in June, is calling for harmonious relations amid the rising tensions between athletes and the president.

"It’s dangerous when folks in our country stop respecting the White House and the seat of the president," Maddon said Saturday, according to Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times. "It's not a good situation.

"With all due respect to everybody, I just believe that we need to get our acts together collectively, all of us."

Related: LeBron 'frustrated' with Trump dividing nation, wants Americans to unite

During a speech Friday at a rally in Huntsville, Ala., Trump called on NFL owners to "get that son of a bitch off the field" in reference to the football stars who have silently protested during the playing of the national anthem before games. Commissioner Roger Goodell later issued a statement on Trump's divisive comments, stating the controversial remarks showed "an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL."

Maddon isn't the only baseball personality to chime in over the past 24 hours on the friction between players and president. Earlier Saturday, New York Yankees starter CC Sabathia adamantly expressed he would not visit Trump's White House if his club were to win the World Series, adding he did not believe in "anything that is Trump."

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