President Donald Trump has a new message for the NFL: Change or business is ¡°going to go to hell.¡±
Trump said Wednesday that the NFL is in a ¡°really bad box¡± over the issue of players kneeling in protest during the national anthem. He said ratings are falling, and the only thing doing well is the NFL pregame show.
Beginning with a rally last Friday in Alabama, Trump has been criticizing players who kneel during the ¡°The Star-Spangled Banner¡± to protest racial injustice. He has said the NFL should require that players stand during the anthem.
Trump said Wednesday there are other places during a game where players can protest ¡°but they cannot do it during the national anthem.¡±
¡°You cannot have people disrespecting our national anthem, our flag, our country,¡± Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Indiana. ¡°In my opinion, the NFL has to change. Or you know what¡¯s going to happen. Their business is going to go to hell.¡±
Earlier on Twitter, Trump said he had spoken Tuesday with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
¡°Jerry is a winner who knows how to get things done. Players will stand for Country!¡± Trump tweeted.
On Monday night, Jones ¡ª a Trump supporter ¡ª and his players knelt arm-in-arm before the anthem, then rose for the playing of the anthem before the team¡¯s victory at the Arizona Cardinals.
Trump has spent several days lashing out at players who kneel, a practice that started with a handful of players to protest racial issues, including police brutality.
Responding to Trump, hundreds of players have been sitting, kneeling, locking arms or remaining in locker rooms.
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