Trump Criticizes NFL’s New Anthem Policy: ‘In Many Ways Worse’

Early this year, the NFL announced it would be finally putting an end to the divisive demonstrations launched by Colin Kaepernick by barring players from kneeling during the National Anthem.

The new policy in no way forces players to stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner” (they can sit it out in the locker room), but it does silence those who wished to use their time on the clock as a means for protest, which was alienating so many fans.

However, on Thursday, President Trump said that the new policy is actually “worse” than the permissive one that came before.

“I don’t want to cause controversy but how about they passed this stupid thing. You don’t have to do this anymore. If you don’t respect the flag or if you don’t like the country — or whatever it is — just go into the locker room,” Trump said at a Montana campaign rally.

“I think in many respects, that’s worse. Isn’t this worse than not standing, you know? I think that’s worse,” the president added. “That doesn’t play. It doesn’t play. I actually think in many ways it’s worse.”

This follows President Trump famously saying last year that the NFL should fire those “son of a b*tch” players who kneel during the National Anthem.