Jaguars, Ravens players kneel during anthem amid Trump’s criticism

Multiple Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars players knelt on Sunday during the playing of the national anthem at the first NFL game since President Trump called for players who take a knee to be fired.

Video and photos posted to Twitter show players kneeling and locking arms as the anthem played.

Ravens and Jaguars players kneeling during National Anthem in England pic.twitter.com/GhthyfIEe3

— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) September 24, 2017

Many players from both teams kneeling during anthem in London, arms linked.

— Neil Best (@sportswatch) September 24, 2017

Multiple players on both the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars took a knee during the national anthem in the first NFL game today pic.twitter.com/lSz7IcwhBm

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) September 24, 2017

A multitude of #Ravens and #Jaguars players kneeling during the National Anthem this morning, the rest of the team locking arms in unison pic.twitter.com/c97tPS9PxC

— Ashlyn Sullivan (@ashlynrsullivan) September 24, 2017

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan joined his players on the field and linked arms with them before the game began. 

Jaguars’ owner Shad Khan: pic.twitter.com/aMO8cHDWYb

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 24, 2017

Trump has faced backlash in recent days after calling on NFL owners to fire players who kneel during the national anthem.

{mosads}”Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now,’ ” Trump said at a rally in Alabama on Friday. ” ‘He is fired.’ ” 

Trump’s comments brought rebukes against Trump from multiple NFL players, the head of the NFL players’ union and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who called Trump’s comments “divisive” and said they showed a “lack of respect for the NFL.”

Several NFL executives have also spoken out against Trump and reaffirmed their players’ rights to peacefully protest.

But Trump on Sunday doubled down on his comments, calling for players to be fired or suspended for not standing during the national anthem and hitting the NFL for not telling players to stand.