Donald Trump's criticisms incite more national anthem protests at NFL games
President Donald Trump's criticism of players who kneel during the national anthem sparked angry protests around the National Football League Sunday  as about 200 players sat  knelt or raised their fists in defiance.
As he prepared to board Air Force One to return to Washington from New Jersey   Trump  said the players protesting the anthem were "very disrespectful to our country" and called again on owners to stop what  he  considers unpatriotic displays in America's most popular sport.
"This has nothing to do with race "  Trump  said. "This has to do with respect for our country."
The NFL and its players  often at odds  used Sunday's anthems to show unity. One of  Trump 's biggest supporters in the NFL  Patriots owner Robert Kraft  joined the chorus when he expressed "deep disappointment" with  Trump .
"I like Bob very much. He's my friend. He gave me a Super Bowl ring a month ago. So he's a good friend of mine and I want him to do what he wants to do "  Trump  said. "... We have great people representing our country  especially our soldiers our first responders and they should be treated with respect.
A handful of NFL players had been continuing Kaepernick's protest this season  but that ballooned Sunday following  Trump 's two-day weekend rant. It began with the president calling for NFL protesters to be fired and continued Saturday when he rescinded a White House invitation for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors over star Stephen Curry's criticism.
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners  when somebody disrespects our flag  you'd say  'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He's fired '"  Trump  said to loud applause Friday night at a rally in Huntsville  Alabama.
"Standing with locked arms is good  kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!"  Trump  tweeted Sunday.
Jets Chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson  whose brother  Woody  is the ambassador to England and one of  Trump 's most ardent supporters  called it "an honor and a privilege to stand arm-in-arm unified with our players during today's national anthem" in East Rutherford  New Jersey.
[TGT] 's criticism of players who kneel during the national anthem sparked angry protests around the National Football League Sunday  as about 200 players sat  knelt or raised their fists in defiance.
As he prepared to board Air Force One to return to Washington from New Jersey    [TGT] said the players protesting the anthem were "very disrespectful to our country" and called again on owners to stop what  he  considers unpatriotic displays in America's most popular sport.
"This has nothing to do with race "   [TGT] said. "This has to do with respect for our country."
The NFL and its players  often at odds  used Sunday's anthems to show unity. One of   [TGT]  's biggest supporters in the NFL  Patriots owner Robert Kraft  joined the chorus when he expressed "deep disappointment" with  Trump .
"I like Bob very much. He's my friend. He gave me a Super Bowl ring a month ago. So he's a good friend of mine and I want him to do what he wants to do "  Trump  said. "... We have great people representing our country  especially our soldiers our first responders and they should be treated with respect.
A handful of NFL players had been continuing Kaepernick's protest this season  but that ballooned Sunday following  Trump 's two-day weekend rant. It began with the president calling for NFL protesters to be fired and continued Saturday when he rescinded a White House invitation for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors over star Stephen Curry's criticism.
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners  when somebody disrespects our flag  you'd say  'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He's fired '"  Trump  said to loud applause Friday night at a rally in Huntsville  Alabama.
"Standing with locked arms is good  kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!"  Trump  tweeted Sunday.
Jets Chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson  whose brother  Woody  is the ambassador to England and one of  Trump 's most ardent supporters  called it "an honor and a privilege to stand arm-in-arm unified with our players during today's national anthem" in East Rutherford  New Jersey.