NFL vs Trump

Patriots kneel in protest during the national anthem. Photo from CNN

By Leland March

In the wake of Donald Trump becoming the president of the United States there has been much controversy between him and athletes and most recently the NFL.

The NFL players have decided to stand in unity against President Trump and his comments where he suggested that players who kneel for the National Anthem are “sons of bitches” and should be fired if they do not stand. With all the problems that come with running a country it seems as though President Trump has another one on his hands. The NFL players did not take kindly to the president’s comments and are coming together now more than ever to show solidarity.

On the following Sunday players showed that solidarity by kneeling and locking arms as the National Anthem played. Although every player from every team did not kneel the majority of the players did and that struck a powerful movement that had been recently jump started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick who has been kneeling for the National Anthem since last year. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said. Kaepernick has been looking for a team to join, but is finding no luck due to his political stance. Now, with President Trump’s comments looming over the league, the players are standing with Kaepernick in this fight of equality and it is making a big impact. Television ratings and viewership went up as much three percent according to Sports Illustrated. Many Americans tuned in to see the response from the NFL players and what they got was a response of epic proportion.

It is unclear what this stand by the NFL players will do for the foreseeable future, but as the topic continues to get bigger, it’s sure to spark more controversy and as long as President Trump speaks out against it, the more problems he will add to his already long list of problems that come with running the United States of America. Through all the controversy, the president remains adamant on his stance against players kneeling for the National Anthem.