President Trump shows no sign of letting up on his criticism of NFL players who protest during the national anthem, reopening a rift over the athletes kneeling as the “Star-Spangled Banner” plays and drawing criticism for his handling of the racially charged issue.

Some Republican figures hailed Trump’s comments about the NFL as a welcome salvo against what critics have characterized as an insult to the country inflicted by several players, beginning with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016, through their decision to kneel on the field during the national anthem. But some observers saw the dust-up as another instance in which the president perpetuated racial divisions and targeted minority individuals in an effort to rile up a base that is sympathetic to such attacks.