President Trump praised Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for announcing Sunday any player on his team who kneels or sits for the national anthem in protest would be benched.
“A big salute to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who will BENCH players who disrespect our Flag.’Stand for Anthem or sit for game!'” Trump tweeted Monday night.
A big salute to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who will BENCH players who disrespect our Flag.”Stand for Anthem or sit for game!”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017
Trump has been railing against NFL players who kneel during the anthem as a protest of police brutality and racism for weeks. He reportedly called Jones multiple times before a Monday night football game last month in order to urge him to make his players not kneel during the anthem.
The Cowboys kneeled in a moment of unity before that game and then all stood for the anthem.
Trump reportedly spoke to Jones multiple times about the protests in the following weeks as well and Jones said those conversations — along with Vice President Mike Pence’s decision to leave after the anthem before Sunday’s Indianapolis-San Francisco game because some of the California team’s players kneeled during the anthem — caused him to make the announcement.
