Fox’s Kilmeade: Trump’s remarks on anthem protests ‘made everything worse’

“Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade said early Monday that President Trump’s remarks at a rally in Alabama about firing football players who kneel during the national anthem “only made everything worse.”

“It’s embarrassing. The first game was at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time in England at Wimbley Stadium, and the whole world got to see how divided we are even when it comes to playing the national anthem,” said Kilmeade. He was referring to a London game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens on Sunday that included some players kneeling during the U.S. national anthem. All players stood during a play of England’s “God Save the Queen.”

“People should get this clear,” Kilmeade added on Monday. “This did not start with President Trump. This started when President Obama was president. When Colin Kaepernick was noticed taking a knee during the national anthem. He was asked about it. Others joined him on it. It was extremely controversial. The president got fed up with it.”

{mosads}”Yesterday, I thought the president overall in his remarks Friday and his tweet Saturday made everything worse.”

Trump at a rally for Sen. Luther Strange (R-Ala.) late last week attacked NFL players who kneel during the anthem.

“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. He is fired,’ ” Trump said.

“If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast,” Trump tweeted early Sunday before the games. “Fire or suspend!”

The president’s comments continued on Monday morning, with Trump tweeting that fans who booed NFL players who refused to stand during the national anthem were demanding respect for the country’s flag.

Many people booed the players who kneeled yesterday (which was a small percentage of total). These are fans who demand respect for our Flag!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 25, 2017

Cable news and the Sunday political talk shows were dominated by commentary and debate over Trump’s comments.

Many players and owners, along with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, have condemned the president’s remarks as divisive.