Trump questions Goodell's message: Is it now 'OK for the players to kneel?'
Three days after Roger Goodell issued a second statement and stronger message of support for the NFL's black community, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted his concern over the commissioner potentially allowing players to kneel during the national anthem.
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
Goodell has yet to state whether he'll allow demonstrations during the anthem, but he admitted the league was "wrong for not listening" to players who previously chose to protest.
The commissioner released a second statement after the league's first message was criticized for not adequately condemning racial injustice following the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Trump also weighed in on last week's controversy sparked by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his comments regarding players potentially kneeling during the anthem.
Brees apologized multiple times for reiterating his "insensitive" stance that he would "never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag." The president tweeted Friday that the veteran passer "should not have taken back his original stance."
Trump was a vocal opponent of players kneeling during the national anthem when protests first took place in the NFL in 2016.