President Donald Trump doubled down on his stance against the protests taking place nationwide in which NFL players and personnel kneel during the national anthem.
After incurring massive backlash on Friday during a rally in which he suggested that the NFL should fire anyone involved in these protests and called anyone who knelt a “son of a b****,” Trump doubled down on Tuesday, posting a video of Usain Bolt pausing to “respect” the national anthem as it played during the 2012 Olympics.
“Even Usain Bolt from Jamaica, one of the greatest runners and athletes of all time, showed RESPECT for our National Anthem!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Even Usain Bolt from Jamaica, one of the greatest runners and athletes of all time, showed RESPECT for our National Anthem! ???? pic.twitter.com/zkenuAP9RS
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2017
The peaceful protests began last year when Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem in protest of discrimination and police brutality in the United States. While Kapernick and others faced significant backlash for the decision, the protests were propelled into popularity on Sunday after Trump’s rally comments.
Across the NFL, players, owners, and others all showed their solidarity for the protests, kneeling and linking arms during the national anthem as it was played. Sunday’s protests included hundreds of players around the country and even reached an NFL game in London.