Trump feud over national anthem continues

US President Donald Trump continued his feud with the National Football League over players’ behaviour during national anthem on Monday.

He said players were disrespectful to the U.S. flag.

Trump praised NASCAR race car drivers for not following a move in the NFL to kneel out of protest while playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the start of the game, and dismissed criticism that his remarks were racially tinged.

Trump tweeted: “The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem.

“NFL must respect this!”

Trump over the weekend had suggested a boycott of the league and called for players who protest social injustice to be dropped by their teams.

Trump condemned players who refused to stand during the national anthem as part of the “Take A Knee” movement, which began a year ago in the NFL in protest of police brutality against African Americans.

Across the league on Sunday, at least 100 players knelt with bowed heads or remained seated during the anthem, while even more stood arm-in-arm with coaches, staff and even owners, in a show of solidarity with the rights of dissenters.

On Monday, Trump praised fans who booed in response to the players’ actions.

He wrote: “These are fans who demand respect for our Flag!”

Trump also retweeted a photo of Pat Tillman, an NFL player who left the league to join the army and was killed in Afghanistan in 2004.

dpa/NAN.