Defiant Trump insists NFL kneeling row 'has nothing to do with race' - as NASCAR drivers are warned they face the sack if they protest anthem

Chloe Chaplain25 September 2017

Donald Trump has defiantly claimed his controversial comments criticising NFL players for kneeling during the national anthem have “nothing to do with race”.

US football stars have been kneeling during the country's national anthem at the start of games to protest race relations and police brutality against African-Americans.

The President sparked outrage after suggesting that players should be fired for doing so and tweeting that fans should boycott matches “until players stop disrespecting our Flag and Country”.

When asked about the issue by MSNBC news, he said: “We have a great country, we have great people representing our country. Especially our soldiers, our first responders and they should be treated with respect.

Buffalo Bills players take a knee during the playing of the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in New York
AP

“And when you get on your knee and you don’t respect the American Flag or the anthem, that’s not been treated with respect.”

The reported then asked if “racial tensions” were to blame, to which Trump responded: “This has nothing to do with race”.

“I’ve never said anything about race,” he went on. “This has nothing to do with race or anything else. This has to do with respect for our country and respect for our flag."

A handful of high-profile NFL players have refused to stand during the national anthem in the past – a gesture which they said was highlighting several race-related issued in the US.

And on Friday, the President blasted players for “disrespecting” the national anthem and described them as “sons of b******” during a speech in Alabama on Friday.

This was followed by a stream of tweets calling on fans to boycott games and retweeting images of members of the armed forces who have lost limbs with the caption: “I wonder what this BRAVE American would give to stand on his OWN two legs just ONCE MORE for our anthem?”

In response to his comments, sporting executives criticised the President and more than 100 players knelt at the start of games over the weekend – including players from Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore playing at Wembley.

Baltimore Ravens player Terrell Suggs said: "We stand with our brothers. They have the right and we knelt with them today.

Defiant: Baltimore Ravens players Tony Jefferson and Matt Judon kneel with their teammates during the US national anthem
AP

“To protest, non-violent protest, is as American as it gets, so we knelt with them today to let them know that we're a unified front. There ain't no dividing us. I guess we're all son-of-a-b******.”

The row has begun seeping into other popular sports across the US with NBA payer Bruce Maxwell becoming the first to kneel for the national anthem in protest on Saturday,

The President also withdrew an invitation to the White House for basketball team the Golden State Warriors after one player, Stephen Curry, said he did not want to attend.

Curry said he wanted to make the point he did not stand for "the things that he's [Trump] said and the things that he hasn't said in the right times".

Following his comment, Trump tweeted: "Going to the White House is considered a great honour for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!"

And according to the Associated Press, NASCAR Cup drivers and crew were threatened with being fired if they took part in the protests.

Several team owners and executives reportedly warned their team members not to kneel during the anthem at The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing race in New Hampshire over the weekend.

Richard Childress, who was Dale Earnhardt's longtime team owner, told AP: “It'll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus". He told his team that "anybody that works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people gave their lives for it. This is America".

NFL kneeling row - In pictures

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