Donald Trump resumed his bashing of NFL players over a handful of anthem protests that occurred during Thursday night’s preseason games.
Trump delivered a mini-tweetstorm on Friday morning in which he suggested NFL players ought to find “another way to protest.” The President again also argued that players should be suspended without pay if they protest during the anthem.
Trump’s tweeted salvos of course are nothing new, as the President has engaged in a war of words with the NFL over the deeply polarizing issue going back to the start of the 2017 season. Trump also has previously suggested the league ought to ban player for protesting, although one NFL owner believes Trump should refrain from involving himself in such matters.
Several players engaged in some sort of anthem protest during Thursday’s preseason action. The acts came amid a controversial new anthem policy ratified by owners earlier this year being temporarily shelved amid ongoing deliberations between the NFL and players.
Despite the continued discussions, any potential resolution of the issue does not appear to be imminent.
“There has been no change in the NFL’s policy regarding the national anthem,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement issued Thursday night, via ESPN. “The anthem will continue to be played before every game, and all player and non-player personnel on the field at that time are expected to stand during the presentation of the flag and performance of the anthem. Personnel who do not wish to do so can choose to remain in the locker room.