As the drama between Donald Trump and the NFL continues, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced that he will bench any player who protests the national anthem. As expected, the president was pleased with Jones' decision and praise him on social media.
Trump on Cowboys
It started last month in Alabama when Donald Trump was campaigning for Luther Strange who was running for a vacant Senate seat. During his speech, Trump bashed the NFL players who have been protesting the national anthem, labeling them a "son of a bitch." Not stopping there, the former host of "The Apprentice" went on to call for team owners to fire those who take part in the protest.
Backlash quickly followed, as the majority of the sports world came to the defense of the players, including NBA star LeBron James who ripped into the commander in chief on Twitter by calling him a "bum." During the following Sunday's games, over 200 players took part in the largest anthem protest in NFL history, as the war of worlds between Trump and the league continued. While protests continue, Jerry Jones made it clear that while he supports his players' right to protest, he will not allow them to do so during the playing of the national anthem. Commenting on this was Trump, who did so in a tweet on October 9.
A big salute to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who will BENCH players who disrespect our Flag."Stand for Anthem or sit for game!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017
Taking to Twitter on Monday night was Donald Trump as the president was overjoyed with Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys for speaking out against the protesting of the national anthem.
"A big salute to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who will BENCH players who disrespect our Flag," Trump tweeted out, before adding, "Stand for Anthem or sit for game!"
"What I have the right to say is who’s on that football field.” https://t.co/WiFK8Vr46R
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) October 10, 2017
Twitter reacts
Not long after Donald Trump sent put his tweet saluting Jerry Jones, critics quickly ripped into the billionaire real estate mogul.
"You are such a shame!!" one tweet read.
You have yet to say anything about the four soldiers killed in Niger during their patrol 2 days ago. Why aren't you honoring their service?
— Tom Shafer (@TomShafShafer) October 10, 2017
I'm not sure what's worse being an actual Bigot or pretending to care so we don't focus on overdue Russian Sanctionshttps://t.co/NsefM9eJp9 pic.twitter.com/tXyZXsF7fl
— Abraham Lincoln (@ALincolnSpirit) October 10, 2017
"I'm not sure what's worse being an actual Bigot or pretending to care so we don't focus on overdue Russian Sanctions," one Twitter user wondered.
"While you attempt to distract us with this feigned outrage, American lives are still at stake in #PuertoRico & wildfires rage in California," another tweet added.
Benching players for protesting police brutality and racial injustice is absolutely shameful. #TakeAKnee
— Civil Rights (@civilrightsorg) October 10, 2017
Oh.... Eww....
— Ruth Virginian (@RuthieKetchup) October 10, 2017
.
Well, you know what, I’d leave anyway.
.
Having public pee pee tapes of me would still be better than being married to him.
You are such a shame!!
— Ali Utlu (@AliCologne) October 10, 2017
"Benching players for protesting police brutality and racial injustice is absolutely shameful," another social media user stated. "Oh....Eww....Well, you know what, I’d leave anyway.
Having public pee pee tapes of me would still be better than being married to him," an additional post stated. As the rift between Donald Trump and the NFL continues, only time will tell how it impacts the political divide in the country.
