Trump: “Tell Them to Stand!”
President Trump is waging war on the NFL in light of National Anthem protests
At a rally last Friday night, President Donald Trump took thinly veiled shots at former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, his fellow protestors, and the NFL at large.
President Trump elaborated on his opinion on his Twitter account, @RealDonaldTrump. He asked his supporters to boycott the league and called out NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Protests have since intensified around the NFL. Before Trump’s comments, only six professional football players had demonstrated during the national anthem this season. On Sunday and Monday night, players on every team projected an underlying message of unity. Some teams chose to remain in the locker room during the anthem, which was ubiquitous in the league until 2009.
Free agent Kaepernick’s original protest was meant to raise awareness about police brutality, but over the past few days, popular debate has shifted from racial justice to the meaning of patriotism and the extension of free speech.
President Trump also uninvited NBA champion Stephen Curry to the White House after he voiced his doubts about the president at a press conference. Fellow basketball superstar Lebron James spoke up on Curry’s behalf.
Curry’s team, the Golden State Warriors, have since announced that they will use their February trip to Washington to “celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion.”
