President Trump slammed critics on Tuesday who have accused him of focusing on recent protests by National Football League players at the expense of those who have lost their homes and belongings in Puerto Rico.
“I wasn’t preoccupied with the NFL,” Trump told reporters at a joint White House press conference. “I was ashamed of what was taking place because to me … I don’t think you can disrespect our country, our flag, our national anthem.”
He continued, “I’ve heard that before about was I preoccupied? Not at all, not at all. I have plenty of time on my hands.”
“All I do is work and to be honest with you, that’s an important function of working — it’s called respect for our country,” Trump said.
The president has spent several days criticizing NFL players and coaches who have allowed their teams to kneel during performances of the national anthem in protest of police brutality and Trump’s handling of race relations in the United States. Several White House officials have defended Trump’s criticism, while critics of the administration have slammed the president for “distracting” from hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico.
“It doesn’t take long to put out a wrong and maybe we will get it right,” Trump said Tuesday. “I think it is a very important thing for the NFL to not allow people to kneel during the national anthem.”
