Donald Trump ramped up his battle with the National Football League on Wednesday, tweeting his frustrations about national-anthem protests before 6 o’clock in the morning from the confines of his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort.
‘The NFL is now thinking about a new idea – keeping teams in the Locker Room during the National Anthem next season. That’s almost as bad as kneeling!’ the president wrote.
‘When will the highly paid Commissioner finally get tough and smart? This issue is killing your league!’
Trump was referring to a Washington Post report on Tuesday that outlined a possible new league policy being privately debated by NFL team owners.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday morning on Twitter that the NFL shouldn’t enact a policy requiring players to remain in their locker rooms while the National Anthem is played
Only a handful of National Football League players, including these three Miami Dolphins, took a knee during The Star Spangled Banner on Sunday, but Trump is not letting go of the issue
‘When will the highly paid Commissioner finally get tough and smart?’ the president wrote in a jab at Roger Goodell; ‘This issue is killing your league!’
Various players and teams have stayed in their locker rooms before games this year, emerging only after the National Anthem is played in order to avoid the decision of whether or not to stand.
Most recently, Trump slammed Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch for continuing to sit for The Star Spangled Banner, despite standing for the Mexican anthem before a game on Sunday.
Lynch’s latest protest took place on Sunday before the Raiders played the New England Patriots at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
During Week 11 in the league’s season, only a handful of players continued the protests – which Trump and other critics say has led to diminished game attendance and television audiences.
In an early morning tweet on Monday, Trump said the NFL should suspend him for the ‘remainder of season.’
‘Marshawn Lynch of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders stands for the Mexican Anthem and sits down to boos for our National Anthem,’ Trump wrote. ‘Great disrespect!’
‘Next time NFL should suspend him for remainder of season. Attendance and ratings way down.’
Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch remained seated for the U.S. anthem this weekend before standing for the Mexican anthem, and it didn’t escape Trump’s notice
Lynch has not stood for the national anthem since returning from retirement this season
In addition to Lynch, the only players who took a knee were New York Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon; and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills, safety Michael Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas.
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters remained in the tunnel leading from the field to the locker rooms until the National Anthem concluded, and then joined his team on the field.
Peters had chosen to kneel during the anthem in previous games this season.