‘Disrespecting Our Anthem’: Trump Calls for Rescinding NFL’s ‘Massive Tax Breaks’ That Ended in 2015

President Suggests Non-Profits Should Lose Tax-Exempt Status if Government Disagrees With Their Beliefs

President Donald Trump Tuesday morning seemed to open the door to ending the “massive tax breaks” that some non-profits receive, which currently cost the American taxpayer between $71 billion and over $80 billion annually. Continuing his war on the NFL over players silently protesting racial injustice and oppression and the killing of Black people by police, Trump tweeted the tax law should be changed so the pro-football organization could be forced to pay taxes since it does not respect America, in his eyes.

“Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!” President Trump demanded.

The NFL in 2015 gave up its non-profit tax-exempt status in 2015 to avoid having to disclose the salary of Roger Goodell, the league’s commissioner.

The NFL is not “disrespecting” the American anthem, flag, or America itself. Citizen protests are as American as apple pie, and are strongly protected against government interference by the First Amendment. While the NFL likely could legally order its employees – the players – to stand for the National Anthem, it would set a bad precedent. 

But the President of the United States demanding the players stand borders on a First Amendment violation, and the White House at some point will need to investigate if Trump should continue this war on free speech. Trump had no problem defending actual Nazis protesting in Charlottesville this summer, and did not condemn their actions when they returned this weekend.

Meanwhile, President Trump likely did not realize that his call for changes in the tax law would mean churches and religious organizations, and countless nonprofits could be stripped of their non-profit status. In fact, Trump earlier this year went out of his way to neuter the Johnson amendment, which bans tax-exempt religious and other non-profits from supporting or opposing political candidates – effectively doing the opposite of what he proposed Tuesday morning.

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