President Trump said the NFL was correct to rule that players either have to stand for the national anthem or remain in their locker rooms if they don’t want to stand, and suggested that players who want to kneel “maybe” should’t be in the country at all.
“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,” Trump told Fox News in an interview that aired Thursday morning. “And the NFL owners did the right thing if that’s what they have done.”
Dozens of NFL players knelt for the national anthem last football season, sparking controversy among fans and the American public. The NFL responded Wednesday by saying those players will now be fined if they come out for the anthem and decide not to stand. They can remain in their locker rooms if they don’t want to stand, but Trump said players shouldn’t pick that option.
“I don’t think people should be staying in locker rooms,” he said.
Trump on NFL decision: “I don’t think people should be staying in locker rooms. 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.” pic.twitter.com/XetNmE4egb
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 24, 2018
Trump said even though he may have brought more attention to the issue of kneeling, he gave credit to the American people for getting the NFL’s attention.
“I think the people pushed it forward. This was not me. I brought it out. I think the people pushed it forward,” Trump said.
