President Trump said Friday he doesn’t think protesting NFL players are standing for any “real” causes because none have submitted names of prisoners to be considered for a presidential pardon or clemency.
In an interview on Fox News, Trump said he hasn’t gotten any suggestions from NFL athletes on names to add to his clemency list.
“I told the NFL players, indirectly, I said, if you have somebody that’s aggrieved … let me know about it, if they’re aggrieved, I’ll pardon them, I’ll get them out,” Trump said.
He added, “Maybe they called the staff. I have not personally heard from one. I don’t think it’s a real issue. I don’t think it’s a real issue.”
Trump recently disinvited the Philadelphia Eagles from visiting the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl victory, citing the kneeling national anthem protests that have swept the NFL. No Eagles players took a knee last season, but only a small number of players were planning to attend the White House event. Washington Capitals winger Devante Smith-Pelly already said he would not attend the White House to celebrate the team’s recent Stanley Cup victory, if invited.
“I’m all for the athletes, I think it’s great, I love athletics, I love sports, but they shouldn’t get the politics involved,” Trump said. “When you’re in a stadium and they broadcast that national anthem, you’ve gotta stand and you’ve gotta be proud and you gotta have your hand up and you gotta do everything that’s right. And then go out and play really tough football. And once you leave that stadium, go and do whatever you want to do.”
“I told the @NFL players… let me know about it, I’ll look at it. If they’re aggrieved, I will pardon them. I’ll get them out.”
WATCH: Steve Doocy’s full interview with President @realDonaldTrump on Fox and Friends – Part 3. pic.twitter.com/ZhCveoyKQH
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 15, 2018
