Donald Trump has said athletes who don’t stand for the US national anthem should get out of the country. Speaking on Fox and Friends Thursday after the NFL unveiled new rules saying that players who don’t want to stand should stay in locker rooms, the president said: ‘I don’t think people should be staying in locker rooms.
‘You have to stand proudly for the national anthem, or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. ‘Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country. ‘You have to stand proudly for the national anthem, and the NFL owners have done the right thing.’
Trump spoke out after the NFL also announced that any players who do come onto a football field and kneel will have their team fined. Players began kneeling during the Stars and Stripes during 2016 in protest at police brutality and racial inequality. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the first footballer to do so, with other sportsmen and women subsequently following suit. Supporters said it was a peaceful but effective protest, while others accused the kneelers of being unpatriotic.
‘She’s not giving up and now her family is behind her, and we’re not giving up until someone is made accountable for their actions.’