Trump: Those Who Kneel For National Anthem ‘Shouldn’t Be In The Country’

GOLDEN, CO - OCTOBER 29:  Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addresses a campaign rally in the Rodeo Arena at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds October 29, 2016 in Golden, Colorado. The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced Friday it discovered emails pertinent to the closed investigation of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's private email server and are looking to see if they improperly contained classified information. Trump said "I think it's the biggest story since Watergate."  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
GOLDEN, CO - OCTOBER 29: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addresses a campaign rally in the Rodeo Arena at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds October 29, 2016 in Golden, Colorado. The Federal Bureau of Inv... GOLDEN, CO - OCTOBER 29: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addresses a campaign rally in the Rodeo Arena at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds October 29, 2016 in Golden, Colorado. The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced Friday it discovered emails pertinent to the closed investigation of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's private email server and are looking to see if they improperly contained classified information. Trump said "I think it's the biggest story since Watergate." (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that “maybe” the NFL players who don’t stand for the National Anthem “shouldn’t be in the country,” further cementing his tirade against the NFL and players who took a knee during the “Star Spangled Banner” at games to protest police brutality.

“You have to stand proudly for the National Anthem or you shouldn’t be playing,” he told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade in an interview broadcast Thursday morning. “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 if that’s what they have done.”

While many deemed the policy change a victory for Trump and his perpetual Twitter diatribes on the subject, Trump wouldn’t take full credit.

I think the people pushed it forward,” he said. “This was not me. I brought it out. I think the people pushed it forward. This country is very smart. We have a very smart country.” 

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. says the guy who sold out the country to the highest bidders.

    My new fav statement (totally stolen): it’s just locker room treason.

  2. Well, I think the National Anthem should be played before every shift of every work day at all places of business in the United States, and any employee who does not stand proudly at attention through the entire song each time it is played - and anyone who shouts “Play ball” before the echo of the last note has faded - should immediately be deported from the country. It should probably be played hourly at the White House and all Trump and Trump-branded properties since those are the most patriotic of all places filled with people who love the country more than any others.

    I also think that anyone caught in the restroom during the playing of the anthem should similarly be deported. As well as those at home who do not stand in front of their TVs.

    ETA: (The National Anthem should immediately be followed by the Two Minute Hate, except on Sundays at Evangelical Churches - then it should be the Five Minute Hate)

  3. Sure Donald whatever but the main topic here is multiple provable instances of blatant corruption starting with the campaign and continuing into your presidency. When we’re done dealing with that maybe there’ll be a minute or two left to talk about basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution but we’ve got a lot to work on before that.

  4. This is fascism, pure and simple. The Republican Party should be ended forever for becoming the Party of Trump.

  5. What about draft-dodgers with fake deferments? Should they be in the country?

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

110 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ghost Avatar for butlerknights Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for jdkahler Avatar for cervantes Avatar for easydm Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for inversion Avatar for karlsgems Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for tena Avatar for jonney_5 Avatar for crooks Avatar for bankerpup Avatar for katscherger Avatar for j_publicus Avatar for erik_t Avatar for seamus42 Avatar for checkmate2016 Avatar for karlwlewis Avatar for captain_america Avatar for desertdweller

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: