‘A Total Disrespect of Our Heritage’
President Donald Trump has some harsh words for Colin Kaepernick. At a campaign rally in Alabama Friday night the president suggested the NFL quarterback is un-American and disrespectful of the American flag and American “heritage.” The word “heritage” is widely seen as a dog-whistle to white supremacists.
Speaking to supporters of U.S. Senator Luther Strange, a Republican running to keep his seat in a special election, Trump told them they are all “unified by the same great American values.”
“We’re proud of our country. We respect our flag,” Trump said, suggesting Kaepernick and other football players who have taken a knee to protest racism and oppression of people of color, rather than stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, do not respect America.Â
“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. Out. He’s fired!'” Trump asked.
Then, milking the moment, the president walked around the stage and the audience began to chant, “USA! USA! USA!”
“That’s a total disrespect of our heritage,” Trump said of players who do not stand for the Pledge. “That’s a total disrespect of everything that we stand for.”
“When people like yourselves turn on television and you see those people taking the knee when they are playing our great national anthem, the only thing you could do better is if you see it, even if it’s one player, leave the stadium,” Trump said. “I guarantee things will stop.”
Some responses via Twitter:
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