Mnuchin Says NFL Players ‘Can Do Free Speech On Their Own Time’

ARCHIV - US-Finanzminister Steven Mnuchin spricht am 18.03.2017 in Baden-Baden (Baden-Württemberg) im Kongresszentrum beim Treffen der G20-Finanzminister während einer Pressekonferenz. Unter dem Eindruck einer neue... ARCHIV - US-Finanzminister Steven Mnuchin spricht am 18.03.2017 in Baden-Baden (Baden-Württemberg) im Kongresszentrum beim Treffen der G20-Finanzminister während einer Pressekonferenz. Unter dem Eindruck einer neuen US-Wirtschaftspolitik trifft sich von Donnerstag an die internationale Finanzelite in Washington. Bei der Frühjahrstagung von Internationalem Währungsfonds und Weltbank wird unter anderem die globalisierungsfreundliche IWF-Chefin Lagarde mit US-Finanzminister Mnuchin diskutieren, der als Vertreter von Trumps Abschottungspolitik gilt. (zu dpa «IWF und Weltbank starten Frühjahrstagung in Washington» vom 19.04.2017) Photo by: Franziska Kraufmann/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images MORE LESS
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As President Donald Trump spent much of his time this weekend blasting professional football players who kneel in protest during the national anthem, members of his Cabinet defended Trump’s rage.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday stood by Trump’s comments and told professional athletes to exercise their First Amendment rights on their own time.

“I think what the President is saying is that the owners should have a rule that players should have to stand in respect for the national anthem,” he said on ABC’s “This Week.” “This isn’t about Democrats, it’s not about Republicans, it’s not about race, it’s not about free speech. They can do free speech on their own time.”

Asked specifically about Trump’s comments urging NFL coaches to fire any “son of a bitch” who protests during the national anthem, Mnuchin said Trump “can use whatever language he wants to use.”

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Notable Replies

  1. I will utilize my free speech right now you sleazebag grifter
    GO FUCK YOURSELF and YOUR ARM CANDY TOO

  2. If a top executive at Mnuchin’s old firm wanted to support a candidate that Mnuchin opposed, would he have been fired? No. Why, because he made the company a lot of money. Same here. People pay to see the players, not the owners. Firing a player for kneeling during the anthem is dumb. It’s the owner shooting himself in the foot.

  3. And you can pay for your own damn private plane charters.

  4. Trump: They should The Free Speeching in their own home when they are unemployed.

  5. “They can do free speech on their own time.”

    I think what Stevie meant to say was, “I can fly private jets on my own dime.”

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