United States President Donald Trump continues to add fuel to the fire when it comes to Colin Kaepernick, kneeling during the national anthem and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's recent apology as the Black Lives Matter movement gains steam.
In a Sunday night tweet, Trump questioned commissioner Goodell's “rather interesting” statement:
Could it be even remotely possible that in Roger Goodell’s rather interesting statement of peace and reconciliation, he was intimating that it would now be O.K. for the players to KNEEL, or not to stand, for the National Anthem, thereby disrespecting our Country & our Flag?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2020
In the tweet, POTUS seems to insinuate that the league is condoning its athletes to “disrespect our country and our flag” by allowing them to kneel or to not stand during the national anthem. This is another clear fumble from the White House as detractors of the athlete's rights to peacefully protest (including Mr. Trump) continue to use the American flag as a blindfold and completely look past the plight of the people fighting for systematic change and equality. The statement inaccurately equates kneeling to disrespecting the flag, which seems to be such a counterproductive stand in times like these.
Just ask New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees.
The NFL initially came out with a statement a week after the murder of George Floyd, which Goodell followed up on and seemingly repealed after a handful of athletes created a powerful video to question the earlier statement. In the new video, Goodell emphasized that the league “condemns racism and systematic oppression of black people” and admits that the league was “wrong for not encouraging all to speak out and peacefully protest.”
The statement clearly didn't sit well with Trump, who refuted Goodell's words and continues to take the side of those who are part of this whole problem by deploring those who choose to take a stand, or in this case, a knee.
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