President Donald Trump's verbal disputes with NFL players have recommenced.
Much like when Trump said any "son of a b---h" that protests during the national anthem should be fired and the league's workforce responded by intensifying their symbolic gestures, the two sides are going at it again over the NFL's anthem issue.
Trump suggested Thursday morning that those who don't stand for the national anthem "shouldn't be playing" and maybe "shouldn't be in the country." Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin responded in kind Thursday afternoon.
"He's an idiot, plain and simple," Baldwin said, according to Gregg Bell of The News Tribune.
"I mean, listen, I respect the man because he's a human being first and foremost, but he's just being more divisive, which is not surprising," Baldwin continued. "It is what it is. But for him to say that anybody who doesn't follow his viewpoints or his constituents' viewpoints should be kicked out of the country, it's not very empathetic. It's not very American-like, actually. It's not very patriotic. It's not what this country was founded upon.
"It's kind of ironic (for) me that the President of the United States is contradicting what our country is really built on."
Baldwin also expressed his disappointment with the NFL's new rules for conduct during the national anthem. Those that are on the field will be required to "stand and show respect for the flag and anthem" and those that choose not to stand will be permitted to remain in the locker room.
"I think the NFL really missed it this time," he said.
