Donald Trump on NFL’s Ban for Kneeling During the National Anthem, Says If You Don’t Stand Proudly You Shouldn’t be in the Country

Speaking to Brian Kilmeade for an interview with Fox and Friends on Thursday (May 24), United States President Donald Trump weighed in on a policy the NFL passed this week that banned kneeling during the national anthem. You can check out a clip of the interview below. President Trump has been outspoken in the past in his criticism of players kneeling during the anthem. Kneeling during the anthem started becoming a hot button issue in 2016, when Colin Kaepernick started kneeling during the anthem to protest racial inequality. Below are some highlights.

Trump on the NFL’s new ban on kneeling: “I think that’s good. I don’t think people should be staying in the locker rooms, but still I think it’s good. 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.”

Trump on who pushed the issue forward: “I think the people pushed it forward. This was not me. I brought it out. I think the people pushed it forward. This country is very smart. We have very smart people. And you know, that’s something that ideally could’ve been taken care of when it first started. It would’ve been a lot easier. But if they did that, then they’re doing the right thing.”

"You have to stand proudly for the National Anthem. You shouldn't be playing, you shouldn't be there. Maybe they shouldn't be in the country…the NFL owners did the right thing" -President @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/bt36t4EX5u

— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) May 24, 2018