President Trump on Tuesday criticized NFL and NBA players for kneeling during the national anthem.
Trump, in an interview with Outkick, told host Clay Travis that the NFL “badly” wants to open up, “but he would be” happier “if they did not as the players will kneel during the national anthem.
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‘Well, they want to open up and they want to open up badly. They have collaborated with government. I would say this, if they do not stand for the national anthem, I hope they do not open. But otherwise I would like to see them open and we do everything possible to get them open. I think they can protest in other ways. “They would flag us if our country did not protest,” Trump said.
Travis asked Trump if he had talked to sports owners about whether their players stood for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Trump said the owners know his feelings very well and said the NBA took a hit in the ratings because players did not stand for the national anthem.
‘I think it has been terrible for basketball. Look at the basketball ratings. They are down to very low numbers. People are angry about it. They do not realize it. … They have enough politics with guys like me. They need no more as they drive down … go to the shot. They do not need it. There is a disgust about the NBA about the way it was done too. That I think the NBA is in trouble. It’s in big trouble. Bigger problems than they understand, “Trump said.
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‘I did not like what baseball even did a bit. Again you have to stand in front of your flag and you have to stand in front of your flag and your country. They earn millions of dollars a year to play a sport that you would at least play if you did not … they would play it on the weekends. They must respect their country.
‘If they did not, honestly, if the NFL did not open, I would be very happy. If they did not stand in front of the flag and stand strong, I would be happier if they did not open. Without that and with that said, I would love to see them open. ”
NFL players seem to be planning some sort of protest to raise awareness for racial injustice and police brutality. According to the league, players will be allowed to wear a decal of names as initials of people who died as a result of systematic racism and police brutality throughout the entire NFL season.
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NBA players nodded in protest during the national anthem when the season returned last month. Only a handful of players stood.
