President Donald Trump.Photo: Zach Gibson - Pool/Getty
President Donald Trump, who has spoken against the#TakeAKnee movementin the past, doesn’t believe there’s any reason why people should be protesting the NFL.
“You can’t be kneeling for the national anthem. You have to respect our flag and our country. I want that as president and I’d want that as a citizen,” he remarked.
In May 2018, NFL ownersapproved rulesthat force players to stand on the sideline or remain in the locker room during the anthem and fine those who do not comply. But according to theWashington Post, the policy is on hold because of disagreements between the league and the NFL Players Association, andESPNpreviously reported that nothing will be enacted this season.
Colin Kaepernick.Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty
When asked whether he was “sensitive” to the reasons behind the protest, Trump pointed out that last year he signed acriminal justice reform bill, the First Step Act, into law.
“I’m the one that had passed judicial reform,” Trump remarked on CBS. “President Obamatried. They all tried. Everybody wanted to do it. And I got it done and I’ve been, you know, really — a lot of people in the NFL have been calling and thanking me for it.”
Trump explained that he believed the protests largely had to “do with reform,” adding, “I took care of that.”
“I think that when you want to protest I think that’s great. But I don’t think you do it at the sake of our flag, at the sake of our national anthem,” he remarked. “I think there are plenty of places and times you can protest and you can do a lot. But you can’t do that. That’s my opinion.”
Trump said during the interview that he would never encourage Barron, his 12-year-old son with First LadyMelania Trump, to take up playing football.
“If he wanted to, yes. Would I steer him that way? No, I wouldn’t,” Mr. Trump remarked, explaining, “I just don’t like the reports that I see coming out having to do with football. I mean it’s adangerous sport.”
“I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players,” wrote director Ava DuVernay just hours before kickoff. “To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It’s not worth it. #ImWithKap.”
In response, actress Rosanna Arquette added, “Me too.”
Nick Cannonalso tweeted out a supportive statement to Kaepernick ahead of the Super Bowl and announced he would bemaking a donationto the former quarterback’sKnow Your Rights Camp, and encouraged his followers to do the same.
In the months leading up to the event, many fans have asked would-be performers toback out of performing at the halftime show, in support of Kaepernick.
Just two days before the big game, rapperCardi Btold the Associated Press that although she had “mixed feelings” about turning down the opportunity to perform at the halftime show, it was important to “stand behind” the athlete.
“My husband [Offset], he loves football. His kids play football.It’s really hard for him…He really wants to go to the Super Bowl, but he can’t go to the Super Bowl, because he’s got to stand for something,” Cardi told the outlet. “You have to sacrifice that. I got to sacrifice a lot of money to perform. But there’s a man who sacrificed his job for us, so we got to stand behind him.”
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Earlier this week, headliners Maroon 5 announced that along with the NFL and Interscope Records, they would bemaking a $500,000 contributionto Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
“Playing the Super Bowl has been a dream of our band for a long time,” frontman Adam Levine told PEOPLE in a statement. “We thank the NFL for the opportunity and also to them, along with Interscope Records, for making this donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters, which will have a major impact for children across the country.”
As part of the NFL’s #InspireChange social justice initiative, their commitment will help to create positive social changes for youth in communities across the country.
Two weeks earlier, fellow halftime performerTravis Scottrevealed that he had agreed to sign on for the high-profile eventon the condition that the NFL would join himin a joint donation to a charitable cause. In partnership with the league, the “Sicko Mode” rapper will make a $500,000 contribution to Dream Corps, a non-profit organization that champions social justice.
“I back anyone who takes a stand for what they believe in,” Scott previously said in a statement to PEOPLE. “I know being an artist that it’s in my power to inspire. So before confirming the Super Bowl Halftime performance, I made sure to partner with the NFL on this important donation. I am proud to support Dream Corps and the work they do that will hopefully inspire and promote change.”
The New England Patriots will play the Los Angeles Rams at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in Super Bowl LIII, which airs Sunday at 6:30 ET on CBS.
source: people.com
