Friday, September 22, 2017: At a rally for Luther Strange in Alabama, President Donald Trump called out NFL players who sit or kneel during the national anthem and says that is why the ratings are down. Trump says NFL owners tell player who doesn't respect the flag, "Get that son-of-a-bitch off the field. He’s fired."
Klamath Falls, OR—Trump vocalized his support for the National Football League’s new rule that requires players to stand during the national anthem, telling Fox News that perhaps the players who refuse to abide “shouldn’t be in the country.”
The NFL approved the policy on Wednesday in a push to end kneeling during the anthem, which Colin Kaepernick began in 2016 football season as a silent protest in the face of rising racial violence and police brutality. The players not on board will have to stay in the locker room.
Trump praised the league for the new rule that would stop national anthem protests before they happen, saying NFL owners did the right thing.
“I don’t think people should be staying in locker rooms,” Trump told Fox News. “You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing. You shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.”
FOX & friends ✔ @foxandfriends
"You have to stand proudly for the National Anthem. You shouldn't be playing, you shouldn't be there. Maybe they shouldn't be in the country...the NFL owners did the right thing" -President @realDonaldTrump
Trump has derided players and team owners for the kneeling protests on multiple occasions, sparking a debate as to whether the protests were disrespectful of the U.S. military or an expression of First Amendment rights. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the controversy in a statement after the new rule was announced that “on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic.”
At an Alabama rally in September, Trump called players who kneeled a “son of a bitch” and encouraged fans to boycott games when the protests occurred. The president has continued to bring up the issue and alluded to it while welcoming NASCAR Champion Martin Truex Jr. to the White House on Monday.
“And I will tell you one thing I know about NASCAR: They do indeed, Brian, stand for the playing of the national anthem, right?” Trump said on Monday. “They do indeed.”
Others from the Trump administration have praised the NFL’s rule change on Wednesday, including Vice President Mike Pence and the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr.
Pence, who left an Indianapolis Colts game after players kneeled last year, posted a screenshot of the news and captioned it ”#winning” on Twitter. Trump Jr. posted a similar tweet on Wednesday captioning an AP article with “STILL NOT SICK OF #WINNING!!!!”
#Winning 10:55 AM - May 23, 2018
Despite the Trump administration’s celebrations on Twitter, however, the rule may not be the end of kneeling protests.
The NFL Player’s Association, which has supported the players’ right to protest, issued a release on Wednesday stating it would review the new rule and challenge any aspect inconsistent with its collective bargaining agreement.
“The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this ‘policy,’ the statement said. “NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about.”
Other Twitter users have noted that the NFL is made up of predominantly black athletes, who could decide to boycott the ruling together.
“The NFL is about 70% black,” tweeted Dominque Hamilton, a former University of Missouri football player. “If united and didn’t take the field at all, it would upset a lot of people and a lot of executives.”
SportsCenter @SportsCenter
The NFL Players Association has issued a statement in response to the NFL's new national anthem policy. (via @NFLPA)
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I am going to post some of the comments that were made on other Facebook groups that I belong too.
ReplyDeleteBarry Gumbert Shouldn't be president if you have bone spurs like porcine in chief
ReplyDeleteI like this comment so far from Debbie Ashbridge "This is coming from captain bone spur while man were fighting in the war this nitwit stayed home and eat bon bon with a gold spoon"
ReplyDeleteAnother great comment: Clara Leiding Baxter "I think if the President of the United States of America doesn't know the words to the national anthem and can't sing it from start to finish, then that President should resign AND leave the country."
ReplyDeleteHere is another one: Madelin Velasquez "You shouldn't be in the White House if you are a draft dodger either!"
ReplyDeleteAnother one: Maureen Pedraza "You shouldn’t be in our country if your a damn traitor like you Trump."
ReplyDeleteThis is what Raúl A Murguía said: "You shouldn't be in the country if you do not respect our constitution."
ReplyDeleteAnd Clara Leiding Baxter "I think if the President of the United States of America doesn't know the words to the national anthem and can't sing it from start to finish, then that President should resign AND leave the country."
ReplyDeleteAnd here is Jason R Jones "we have more important things to worry about then the anthem...myself i wont stand for it...doesnt make me less of an american and will never diminish the respect i have for all service men and woman who keep us safe and protected...besides prez bone spurs is making all people have zero respect for this government"
ReplyDeleteAnd here is Lee Walton "Forced patriotism. Just like Russia China and North Korea"
ReplyDeleteAnd Diane Caldwell "You shouldn't be in the country as you committed treason!"
ReplyDeleteAnd Vida Truitt "TRAITORS should shut their treasonous mouths."
ReplyDeleteAnd Suzanne Jenkins "traitors like YOU should be tarred and feathered...then deported...you are a draft dodging dotard..."
ReplyDeleteAnd Richard Sandusky "Hmmm, why hasn't Trump departed with not placing his hand over his heart during the playing of the National anthem in respect, as he can easily tell others they are disrespecting the flag as he did."
ReplyDeleteAnd Evelyn Rose "You shouldn't be president if you refused to serve in the military. You had your doctor lie about bone spurs but you never had surgery on them. Has not bothered you walking the distance from your golf cart to your golf ball."
ReplyDeleteAnd Tom Green "Freedom is the right to have and express your own opinion. Forced patriotism is another form of oppression."
ReplyDeleteAnd Harvie L. Christian "Once again Trump violates his oath of office. I believe that when a president violates his oath of office, that should be grounds for impeachment and removal from office. I know that if I had broken my oath I took when I joined the military, I would have been given a dishonorable discharge. The Commander-in-Chief should be held to the same standard."
ReplyDeleteAnd this comment: Odell Griggs Jr "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable (President John F. Kennedy)"
ReplyDeleteJack Lynch "We should not have a President who was a 5 time Draft Dodger (FACT) ..he should not open his fat mouth!!!!!"
ReplyDeleteScott Williams "His grandfather dodged the draft in his day, and for that was not allowed back into Germany. Cadet “Bonespurs” has five deferments from the US Draft! And this asshole says what? ? ?"
ReplyDeleteAnna BergAnna and 2 others manage the membership and posts for FU2 TRUMP. "You shouldn't be in this country if you stole the election & use the position to enrich yourself & your sleaze ball relatives."
ReplyDelete