The feud between Donald Trump and the National Football League (NFL) took another turn this week when Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement calling on all players to stand during the National Anthem. After the president cheered the decision, many on social media weren't pleased.
Trump on NFL
Over the last two and a half years since Donald Trump first kicked off his campaign for president, he's made remarks and statements that have ended up in the headlines and rubbed many the wrong way. One of the president's more recent remarks includes referring to the NFL players who protest the national anthem as a "son of a bitch" who should be "fired" by team owners.
Following Trump's comments, the feud between himself and the sports world went to another level, only resulting in a record number of protests taking place in spite of the former host of "The Apprentice." Despite nearly league-wide support for the players, the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins called on their team to stand during the anthem, with Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones threatening to bench anyone who protests. On Tuesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement pushing the players to stand, while additional reports note that team owners are considering approving a league-wide mandate. As seen on his Twitter account on October 11, Trump was pleased.
It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem-RESPECT OUR COUNTRY
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2017
Taking to his Twitter feed on Wednesday morning, Donald Trump was happy with his apparent victory in having the NFL force the players to stand during the national anthem.
"It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem," Trump tweeted out, before adding, "RESPECT OUR COUNTRY."
Roger Goodell in letter to NFL team owners: “Everyone should stand for the national anthem. We want to honor our flag and our country" pic.twitter.com/gYagiW9m4O
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) October 11, 2017
Twitter reacts
As expected, those who oppose the current administration wasted no time sounding off on social media.
"Holy cow! Give up on this already!" one tweet read, while adding, "You don't get it! If you just shut up already, the players won't feel as though they don't need to do this every week."
Now he attacks black NFL players for doing a peaceful protest.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) October 11, 2017
You don't get it! If you just shut up already, the players won't feel as though they don't need to do this every week.
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) October 11, 2017
"Do you consider it 'respecting our country' when you attack a war hero POW?" another Twitter user posted in reference to Donald Trump's past remarks about Sen.
John McCain's time in the Vietnam War. "Trump is a white supremacist who attacks gold star families for being brown," Eugene Gu wrote, before noting, "Now he attacks black NFL players for doing a peaceful protest."
Do you consider it respecting your country when you are taped saying that you want to grab women by their pu$$y???
— Impeach Donald Trump (@Impeach_D_Trump) October 11, 2017
Says the sociopath who attacks women, gold-star families, and @SenJohnMcCain while spending millions of tax dollars on vacations.
— RoseTyler (@ZoeKissane17) October 11, 2017
It’s horrible, the racism that is. Eminem was right, “Players have a voice for the people that don’t.”
— Lauren Gold (@Lauren18kGold) October 11, 2017
"Says the sociopath who attacks women, gold-star families, and @SenJohnMcCain while spending millions of tax dollars on vacations," another post stated. As the backlash continued, the feud between Donald Trump and the sports world moved forward.
