President Trump has weighed in on the NFL's new policy regarding the national anthem, saying he does not think players "should be staying in locker rooms” if they do not want to stand on the field when the song is played. Appearing in a taped interview on Fox News' "Fox & Friends," Trump said, "You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem, and the NFL owners did the right thing” (“Fox & Friends,” Fox News, 5/24). USA TODAY's Fritze & Korte note Trump "made the issue a cause célèbre last year as some NFL players took a knee during the anthem to protest violent interactions between police and African Americans." During a rally in Alabama last September, Trump "called on fans to boycott games over the controversy." During the Fox News interview, Trump indicated that he "didn't believe he is responsible for the policy change." Trump: "This was not me. I brought it out. I think the people pushed it forward" (USATODAY.com, 5/24). However, ABC's Gio Benitez notes Trump has been "pressuring the league for months" on its anthem policy. Trump "just days ago" was "praising NASCAR" for its anthem policy ("World News," ABC, 5/23).
TRUMP PLAYED A ROLE: Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy acknowledged that Trump's name "did come up" as NFL owners discussed potential chances to the anthem policy. Murphy said, "It was more how (Trump) might react, anticipating that. Also, how the fans will react, how the media will react. That’s what we tried to think through. … No matter what we did, (Trump) would probably try to get involved one way or the other -- either criticizing us or taking credit for the change." THE MMQB's Albert Breer noted the issue of Trump's influence "wasn’t belabored" during the meetings. One owner recalled Trump’s name "coming up three times, and never for any extended time." Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said, “(Trump) certainly initiated some of the thinking, and was a part of the entire picture. But all of that was given consideration" (SI.com, 5/24). However, U.S. Rep Cedric Richmond (D-La.), who serves as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said, "They made this decision to placate Donald Trump and those like him who blindly equate standing for the national anthem with patriotism" (AP, 5/23).
#WINNING: POLITICO's Matthew Nussbaum wrote under the header, "NFL Caves To Trump." The league's decision gave a win to Trump, who had "demanded consequences for the mostly African-American players using the gesture to protest racism." The NFL’s move "marks a clear culture war victory for Trump." He had "returned to the issue repeatedly, both at rallies and on Twitter, firing up crowds with his condemnations of the protests" (POLITICO.com, 5/23). In DC, Richardson & Paras in a front-page piece write the league’s decision "came as a win" for Trump, whose frequent tweets during the '17 season "blasting the take-a-knee protests" kept the issue in the "cultural and political spotlight" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/24). In Orlando, Mike Bianchi writes this new rule by the NFL was a "major victory for President Trump, whose persistent Twitter assault blasting the kneeling players and his profane plea to NFL owners to 'fire the (SOBs)' poured gasoline on an already combustible issue" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/24).
POWER OF THE OVAL OFFICE: BLEACHER REPORT's Mike Freeman wrote the NFL crafted a policy "based on fear, not practicality" due to an "intense fear" of Trump. Freeman: "What does the NFL fear? It fears boycotts of games. It fears people not watching its product on television. It fears people not buying its products. ... That fear of losing money thanks to an angry fanbase, stirred up by the president and his supporters, clearly drove this decision" (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 5/23). In Phoenix, EJ Montini wrote the NFL owners are "being cowards." They are "terrified of a tweet" by Trump and what that "might mean for their bottom line" (AZCENTRAL.com, 5/23). A N.Y. TIMES editorial is written under the header, "The NFL Kneels To Trump." Rather than "show a little backbone themselves and support the right of athletes to protest peacefully, the league capitulated to a president who relishes demonizing black athletes" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/24). REUTERS' Daniel Trotta wrote under the header, "Bowing To Trump, NFL Will Require Players To Stand For Anthem" (REUTERS, 5/23).
MAKES HIM STRONGER: YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote Trump "can declare victory on this." Wetzel: "He won. And then he can rip the league at will because this plays into his hand." The policy does "little and the underlying reasons his comments worked aren’t going anywhere." It is "win-win for him and lose-lose for the NFL." Wetzel: "So how exactly does the NFL think this will quell Trump’s interest in using it to whip his voters into a frenzy? This just emboldens him. He knows he can push the league around" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/23). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote Trump and Vice President Pence would have "continued to attack if the rule hadn’t changed, and they’ll now revel in the fact that they forced the NFL to bow to their will." Trump has "managed to get a group of billionaires who refused on multiple occasions to give him a seat at the table to kiss his ring and do his bidding." Florio: "President Trump wins. The NFL loses. And President Trump will [remind] anyone and everyone about this victory" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 5/23). ABC's Robin Roberts: "Instead of diffusing it, the President's comment's just escalates it" ("GMA," ABC, 5/24).
IS NFL SCARED OF TRUMP? ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said the NFL is afraid of Trump's power, as he has the "ability to hijack an issue like the Colin Kaepernick protest and turn it into something that it was not about." Smith said of the NFL, "They had better hope that the President of the United States doesn't turn around and start complaining about those players again when they're not coming out for the national anthem and instead waiting inside the locker room until the national anthem is being played. ... Because the second he makes that a focal point of his argument, so will his constituency and millions of others.” ESPN’s Max Kellerman said, “If you do what he wants you to do, he's going to take credit for it. If not, he's going to blast you anyway. No matter what, he'll continue to make it an issue if he thinks it's a winning issue for him. So why be afraid of the president?" ("First Take," ESPN, 5/24).
TWITTER REAX: NBC News’ Chuck Todd: “While new NFL anthem policy makes sense from business & Trump PR perspective and is certainly within league’s rights, there’s just something that feels unAmerican about forcing folks to abide what is, well, the league’s own politics. Feels like a band aid that won’t stick.” PBS’ Yamiche Alcindor: “To be clear, the NFL is publicly siding with President Trump by requiring players to now stand during the national anthem and stop protesting police brutality. The president has said players should stand because they are not being patriotic. Pres Trump has now gotten his way.” The Washington Post’s EJ Dionne: “All who love our country & our freedoms should reject the #NFL owners' shameful targeting of protesting players--and their spineless caving to #Trump's pressure.” Fox News’ John Roberts: “Question: will this become known as the ‘Trump’ rule?” Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman: “Just so we're clear... The NFL capitulated to Trump, rolled over like a dog looking for a tummy rub.” NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks: “Chances that Trump mentions this new NFL anthem rule during the #Eagles White House ceremony feel like they are roughly 100%” (TWITTER.com, 5/23).
