President Trump reiterated his feelings on Colin Kaepernick, the NFL and kneeling during the national anthem in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday night.
Trump addressed tax reform in Dauphin County, Pa., before speaking with Sean Hannity about a variety of issues, including health care reform and fake media.
Here’s what he had to say about the anthem controversy that has dominated NFL headlines so far this season:
“I watched Colin Kaepernick and I thought it was terrible. And then it got bigger and bigger and started mushrooming,” Trump said of the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who was the first to kneel during the anthem last season.
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“And frankly, the NFL should have suspended him for one game and he would have never done it again,” Trump continued. “They could have then suspended him for two games and they could have suspended him if he did it a third time, for the season, and you would never have had a problem.
“But I will tell you — you cannot disrespect our country, our flag, our anthem, you cannot do that,” he said.
When Kaepernick knelt, he said it was to bring attention to racial and social injustices. More NFL players have followed his lead this season.
Earlier Wednesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players’ Association executive director DeMaurice Smith issued a joint statement that said both would meet with team owners during next week’s meetings in New York to continue to talk about ways to help initiate change on social issues players have expressed concern over.
Follow Heather Tucker on Twitter @HeatherR_Tucker
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