Up early Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump fired off several tweets referring to his ongoing feud with NFL players protesting during the national anthem.
Trump escalated his tiff with the football league by suggesting the government nix the NFL’s tax breaks.
Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017
The NFL gave up its tax exempt status in 2015, leaving it unclear which tax breaks Trump would be looking to eliminate. The league does see tax breaks when building stadiums, but those are granted by local governments, not the federal government.
Trump also went after Jemele Hill, the ESPN anchor recently suspended from the network for tweets about the owner of the Dallas Cowboys.
With Jemele Hill at the mike, it is no wonder ESPN ratings have "tanked," in fact, tanked so badly it is the talk of the industry!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017
Monday night, Trump defended Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who said recently that he would not allow any player who kneels during the national anthem to play.
A big salute to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who will BENCH players who disrespect our Flag."Stand for Anthem or sit for game!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017
Trump’s renewed interest in the NFL and players’ protests came after Vice President Mike Pence walked out on a football game over the weekend when players kneeled for the national anthem.
Well, why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks?
It´s a little disconcerting to wake up and find myself agreeing, in part, with Donald Trump.
As I understand it, the players do not have a constitutional right to protest on the filed. The Constitution stipulates that the government shall make no laws abridging freedom of speech. Non-government employers can impose rules that the government cannot. I do not believe that NFL owners should interfere with freedom of expression, but I do not see this as a constitutional issue. That said, if the government punishes an individual or corporation (corporations are individuals, too, according to the Republicans) for not sufficiently worshiping the flag, that would be a constitutional issue.
Donald Trump VS _______________
Another day another battle
The distractor in Chief
Meanwhile back at the Mueller investigation
I would call the bluff. Teams cannot afford to bench 1/2 roster for games. What if entire roster took knee? Forfeit game?