As Donald Trump's feud with the National Football League continues, the president made sure to give his thoughts during the first round of games on Sunday. As expected, Trump's remarks didn't go over well with his critics.
Trump on NFL
Over the last 48 hours, the number one story to dominate the headlines has been in regards to the comments Donald Trump made on Friday night about the national anthem protests taking place before NFL games. The protests started last year when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem as a way to bring attention to police brutality and racial issues in the country.
Trump addressed the protests while appearing at a rally for GOP run-off candidate Luther Stranger in Alabama. The former host of "The Apprentice" referred to those who take part in the protest as a "son of a bitch," while advocating for team owners to consider firing them. In the days since the president's speech, he's traded insults with the NFL on social media, which continued during a string of tweets during the early afternoon football games on September 24.
Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
Taking to his Twitter account on Sunday afternoon, Donald Trump continued his attack on the NFL, while bringing up the national anthem protests and mocking the league's recent low TV ratings.
"Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable," Trump tweeted, before adding, "Bad ratings!"
Courageous Patriots have fought and died for our great American Flag --- we MUST honor and respect it! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
Not stopping there, Donald Trump elaborated on his feelings about why Americans should honor the national anthem.
"Courageous Patriots have fought and died for our great American Flag --- we MUST honor and respect it!" the president posted, while stating, "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Twitter reacts
As Donald Trump attacked the NFL while the games were taking place on Sunday, his critics wasted no time firing back with thoughts of their own.
"What's unacceptable to you is very acceptable to the US Constitution!" one tweet read.
So you see you are becoming hated by the people whose respect you crave and it's freaking you out. You're not equipped to handle it.
— Elliott Lusztig (@ezlusztig) September 24, 2017
We need to repeal and replace the President of the United States.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) September 24, 2017
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they all stay in the locker room to protest Donald Trump?" Eugene Gu tweeted, adding, "We need to repeal and replace the President of the United States." "Howard Stern said it just right: He said you were very needy, and would want people to like you, but that's not the kind of job POTUS is," another Twitter user noted.
Ratings were always considered good on TV. He's still stuck in that world. Doesn't realize how the REAL world works. 🙈
— Suzanne Gest (@lisurfgirl12) September 24, 2017
Just come to the realization already that most of America is against you!
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) September 24, 2017
Remember to treat people as you would like to be treated. Learned that in elementary school.
— Nedda (@n3dda) September 24, 2017
"Why are so obsessed with ratings? It's weird. Really. The system is way outdated. Like you and your ideals. Also FYI they're protesting you," Holly Marie Combs wrote. As the backlash continued, it showed that the rift between Donald Trump and the NFL was not going to improve at any point in the near future.
