Trump Continues NFL Culture War on Fox & Friends : ‘I Think It’s Disgraceful’
EXCLUSIVE: @PeteHegseth interviewed @POTUS on national anthem protests pic.twitter.com/LJhOK9nTmw
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) September 28, 2017
The sun rose on Thursday, and guess what? President Donald Trump’s culture war with the NFL is still fucking going.
The president gave an interview to Fox & Friends which aired Thursday morning, and of course weekend co-host Pete Hegseth brought up Trump’s opposition to NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality.
“You have certainly started a national conversation this week, Mr. President, on the NFL,” Hegseth cooed. “Your critics say it’s been a distraction, but you say it’s critical, you talk about words like ‘patriotism’ and ‘citizenship.'”
“Why is this such an important issue for you?” asked Fox & Friends’ most obsequious patriot.
Trump said the issue was not a distraction, before rattling through his achievements as president.
“But the NFL cannot disrespect our country, they cannot disrespect our flag or our national anthem.” Trump continued. “And they can’t have people sitting down or kneeling down during our national anthem.” (Both Hegseth and the president could do with reading this quick explanation of why everyone is kneeling.)
“I have so many friends that are owners,” Trump said. “They’re in a box. I’ve spoken to a couple of them, they said we are in a situation where we have to do something. I think they’re afraid of their players…and I think it’s disgraceful.”
Trump repeated his unfounded claim that NFL ratings are “way down,” as Hegseth stared at him blankly and nodded.
“When it comes to the respect of our nation, when it comes to the respect of our anthem and our flag — they have no choice. You have to have people stand with respect,” Trump concluded.
A number of news outlets reported this week that Trump is privately enjoying the culture war that he has ignited against the mainly black NFL players taking a knee, believing it shores up his white, working-class base.
Watch above, via Fox News.
