Trump Says His Objection to NFL Anthem Protests ‘Has Nothing to do With Race’

(MORRISTOWN, New Jersey) — President Donald Trump insisted Sunday that his opposition to NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality “has nothing to do with race” but has to do with “respect for our country and respect for our flag.” Trump, who inflamed the sports world on Friday by saying players who protest police brutality during the Star Spangled Banner by refusing to stand or conducting other acts of defiance should be fired, reiterated Sunday that owners “should do something” about the protests. Trump, as he prepared to board Air Force One to return to Washington from New Jersey on Sunday, said he didn’t think his comments Friday on players being fired or since have inflamed racial tensions. Trump said the players protesting the anthem were “very disrespectful to our country.” Quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the kneeling movement last year when he played for the San Francisco 49ers, refusing to stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest the treatment of black people by police. Kaepernick became a free agent and has not been signed by a new team for this season. “This has nothing to do with race. I’ve never said anything about race,” Trump said. “This has nothing to do with race or anything else. This has to do with respect for our country and respect for our flag.” Trump said he was not watching NFL games on Sunday — &...
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