“He’s going to kill football!” Trump denounces Roger Goodell for allowing NFL players to kneel

Donald Trump slammed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Sunday morning for banning professional footballers from kneeling for the national anthem.

“ He’s going to kill football, ” Trump told Eric Bolling of Sinclair during an interview on “ America This Week ” with the former Fox News host. “People are not going to watch.

The president also criticized Goodell for dressing too casually for the video ad released earlier this summer, and compared him to alleged Democratic candidate Joe Biden, who set up a makeshift television studio in his sub -ground to host virtual appearances in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

“ I thought it was over, ” Trump said of his fights with the NFL over players kneeling for the American flag and the stars and stripes. “ And then Roger Goodell, from his basement, like Biden, in a blue t-shirt as opposed to a suit – he looks a lot more handsome in a suit. ”

“ But Roger Goodell came out and made the statement in August or July – out of nowhere – talking about everything he does, ” the president lamented.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted in a video released in June that the league should have listened to players earlier on issues of racism and police brutality

Trump compared Goodell’s announcement to alleged Democratic candidate Joe Biden, who often shows up for virtual events from his basement studio designed to host interviews and appearances during the coronavirus

Goodell posted a video in June in which he appeared to encourage players to kneel down after there were widespread calls for the NFL to respond following George Floyd’s death, which spared months of nationwide protests by Black Lives Matter.

“Protests across the country are emblematic of centuries of silence, inequality and oppression of black players, coaches, supporters and staff,” Goodell said in the video in early June.

“We, the National Football League, admit that we were wrong not to listen to NFL players earlier and encourage everyone to speak out and protest peacefully,” he continued. “Without black players there would be no National Football League.”

Since taking office, Trump has criticized professional athletes for kneeling at the start of the game, while the National Football League has remained stuck in a multi-year debate with football players over the kneeling protests.

“I thought we won this battle. I had this battle two years ago with the NFL and their grades went down 25%, their crowds stopped coming – I mean they had empty seats everywhere, ” Trump complained to Bolling.

The NFL faced controversy for its initial response to the kneeling protests, which were popularized by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick sued the NFL in 2017, accusing the organization and team owners of colluding to keep him out of the league in the wake of his protests.

“You know what, if I see people kneeling during our national anthem, if I see people not respecting our country, which is represented by our flag, I will not watch a match,” he repeated. threat that he often does. “A lot of other people agree with me.

Kneeling in protest during the national anthem was popularized during the 2016 football season when then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the protest. Kaepernick sued the NFL in 2017, accusing the organization and team owners of colluding to keep him out of the league

Trump also ensured that it was in the contracts of NFL players that they were to hold hands over their hearts for the national anthem.

“ There are a lot of places they can protest, ” Trump said.

“They make millions and millions of dollars. They have a good life. Think about it, ”he said of those protesting racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling on the pitch at the start of the match. “Their life is not bad. And they must respect our country.

In Trump’s broad but shorter-than-usual interview, the president urged football to return in the fall, but only if players don’t kneel for the American flag.

“ My answer: play soccer, ” Trump said when asked about the potential of players to contract coronavirus when they are so close to each other.