President Donald Trump thinks the NFL kneeling protests would never have gained popularity if the league had formally disciplined former San Francisco 49ers player Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of police brutality.
While speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Wednesday night’s episode, Trump called Kaepernick’s protests “terrible,” but claimed they could have been prevented.
“I watched Colin Kaepernick and I thought it was terrible. And then it got bigger and bigger and started mushrooming,” Trump told Hannity, according to a Fox News producer’s transcript of the show.
“And frankly the NFL should have suspended him for one game and he would have never done it gain,” he continued. “They could have then suspended him for two games and they could have suspended him again if he did it a third time for the season, and you would have never had a problem.”
Earlier Wednesday, Trump tweeted that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made a change in NFL policy requiring athletes to stand during the anthem. This statement was incorrect, and forced the NFL to clarify that the league still does not require players to stand during the anthem.
It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem-RESPECT OUR COUNTRY
Kaepernick began his peaceful protest in 2016 as a quarterback for the 49ers by taking a knee during the national anthem during a pre-season game. Kaepernick explained at the time that he was protesting racial injustice and police violence against black people.
“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.com at the time. “This is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
Kaepernick’s protest inspired other NFL athletes to make various similar gestures of protest during the pre-game anthems throughout the rest of the season, including kneeling, linking arms, raising a fist or missing the anthem altogether.
While some Americans support the athletes’ decisions to protest racial inequality, others have found them disrespectful to the American flag, members of the military and law enforcement.
Former NBA guard Darius Morris has died at the age of 33. He played for five teams during his four NBA seasons. Morris played college basketball at Michigan.
Affluent Americans may want to double-check how much of their bank deposits are protected by government-backed insurance. The rules governing trust accounts just changed.
Miami Heat president Pat Riley rebuked comments Jimmy Butler made about the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, while also implying that his star needs to play more.
Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss the Padres-Marlins trade that sent Luis Arraez to San Diego, as well as recap all the action from this weekend in baseball and send birthday wishes to hall-of-famer Willie Mays.
An annual government report offered a glimmer of good news for Social Security and a jolt of good news for Medicare even as both programs continue to be on pace to run dry next decade.
Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.
Some key hitting performances need a trip under the magnifying glass. Fantasy baseball analyst Scott Pianowski does just that and advises managers on what to do next.