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