Donald Trump questions NFL over anthem protests after Roger Goodell apology
- US president asks if Roger Goodell’s statement means that players can now kneel during national anthem
- NFL commissioner had apologised for not listening to players earlier
US president Donald Trump has responded to the NFL after the organisation’s statement that they made errors in their handling of Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid.
Trump posted on Twitter on Sunday night to question the statement from NFL chief Roger Goodell.
“Could it be even remotely possible that in Roger Goodell’s rather interesting statement of peace and reconciliation, he was intimating that it would now be O.K. for the players to KNEEL, or not to stand, for the National Anthem, thereby disrespecting our Country & our Flag?”
The NFL commissioner released a video statement on Friday in which he said “we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier”. The apology came amid ongoing nationwide protests over the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“Without black players there would be no National Football League,” Goodell said. “And the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality and oppression of black players, coaches, fans and staff.”
Trump had also taken issue with NFL quarterback Drew Brees apologising for his own comments about kneeling during the anthem. Brees backtracked after criticism but Trump criticised that.
“I am a big fan of Drew Brees,” Trump tweeted. “I think he's truly one of the greatest quarterbacks, but he should not have taken back his original stance on honoring our magnificent American Flag. OLD GLORY is to be revered, cherished, and flown high … We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart. There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!”
Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem to draw attention to police brutality when he was quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers in the 2016 season. He has not played for an NFL team since leaving the 49ers that year and last year he and Reid reached a financial settlement with the league.
