Since the beginning of the professional football season, President Donald Trump has been intensely engaged in the politics unfolding within the sport. He has repeatedly called for the firing of players who kneel, or at least do not stand, during the national anthem - extolling these players as disrespectful to both the American flag and our soldiers. So when photographs revealed Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch standing during the Mexican national anthem, but sitting during the U.S. national anthem, at a Sunday game in Mexico City (versus the New England Patriots), Trump was quick to criticize on Twitter. The president went so far as to demand Lynch be suspended for his "great disrespect."
Trump calls on the NFL to suspend Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch https://t.co/X3YrvIbb0k https://t.co/FGFgnp1F5W— CNN Politics (@CNN Politics) 1511187545.0
It began when Boston Globe sports writer Ben Volin posted these photos on Twitter.
The photos, taken and posted during the Sunday game, clearly show Lynch sitting and then standing, with Volin claiming they occurred during the U.S. and Mexican national anthems respectively.
Marshawn Lynch sits during the US national anthem, stands for Mexican anyhem https://t.co/8wdaKprEki— Ben Volin (@Ben Volin) 1511126549.0
The following morning, "Fox & Friends" highlighted the story.
The show discussed the photos at 6:07 a.m. eastern time. "Fox & Friends" is notoriously known as Trump's favorite television program.
At 6:07 a.m. FOX & Friends highlights Marshawn Lynch story; Trump tweets at 6:25 a.m. https://t.co/Y9yFDsd8bd— Charlie Spiering (@Charlie Spiering) 1511180619.0
Trump claims he doesn't have time to watch television.
While traveling through Asia recently, Trump told a group of reporters that he is too busy reading documents to watch the news or television. And yet, at 6:25 a.m. eastern time, less than twenty minutes since the "Fox & Friends" hosts began discussing Lynch, Trump tweeted about the running back.
"Marshawn Lynch of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders stands for the Mexican Anthem and sits down to boos for our National Anthem. Great disrespect! Next time NFL should suspend him for remainder of season. Attendance and ratings way down."
It is funny how he commented on the subject immediately following a television program that he is too busy to watch.
This is not the first time Trump has espoused such pseudo patriotic rhetoric.
Those present at the game had a different experience.
Michael Gehlken, Raiders beat writer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, had this to say about the game: "Donald Trump weighs in on Marshawn Lynch. Do not recall any boos before or during national anthem, be they toward Lynch or otherwise."
Donald Trump weighs in on Marshawn Lynch. Do not recall any boos before or during national anthem, be they toward L… https://t.co/B6IOLl7Duk— Michael Gehlken (@Michael Gehlken) 1511184473.0
So why is Trump making a big deal?
Many say it is because Trump is racist.
Or at least he readily attacks black people, while shying away from others.
Good morning, we now have another name to add to the list: Marshawn Lynch. The President of the United States CLEAR… https://t.co/85kc0ncVYF— nate bowling (Iftar All-Star) (@nate bowling (Iftar All-Star)) 1511186870.0
If you pay attention, there is a pattern with who Trump chooses to target.
If you haven't caught the pattern by now, it's because you're intentionally missing it https://t.co/DoYzJNh47e— Astead (@Astead) 1511186772.0
He strangely avoids criticizing on Twitter certain people who have no issue with criticizing him.
Notice he hasn't gone after Greg Popovich, Steve Kerr or Eminem? #beastmode https://t.co/ZaAj8KT0Gt— Sophia Tesfaye (@Sophia Tesfaye) 1511183968.0
Then Marshawn's mother reminded us the real reason Trump has a beef with the NFL.
It is a beautiful thing when a football player's mother owns the childish president of the United States. Delisa Lynch 1, Donald Trump 0.
what NFL team do Trump own ? oh yeah they wouldnt let him have one ,!! LMAO https://t.co/1rPa5jfMjE— MOMMA LYNCH (@MOMMA LYNCH) 1511204723.0
There are of course still those who blindly support Trump.
They are even beginning to type and speak like him.
#HellwithNFL. The NFL is all about ignorance, whether the players, Goodell or owners. Political protests, horrible… https://t.co/vuKUFPSt2U— Lou Dobbs (@Lou Dobbs) 1511184430.0
A former President's quote reminds us the importance of protesting for one's rights.
In fact, it is our American right to do so.
"I want every American free to stand up for his rights, even if sometimes he has to sit down for them." - John F. Kennedy (Sept. 5, 1960)
"I want every American free to stand up for his rights, even if sometimes he has to sit down for them."--John F. Ke… https://t.co/2eTKDaZqyt— Dr. DaShanne Stokes (@Dr. DaShanne Stokes) 1511185932.0
And then there's the matter of Trump's many alternative facts...
Trump has tweeted many times that attendance and ratings for NFL games are "way down." But that is not true.
Through ten weeks of the 2017 season, the average attendance at NFL games is actually up slightly, from 68,914 per… https://t.co/UFMPI5rxOE— Rob Tornoe (@Rob Tornoe) 1511179348.0
Twitter has grown tired of Trump's tirades.
@CNNPolitics Because it's the presidents job to attack football players who are trying to enact social change 🙄 may… https://t.co/IXrHGHudou— Tom (@Tom) 1511188050.0
More and more recognize a distraction when Trump tweets one.
@bingwisdom @CNNPolitics @CNN Seriously! FFS so we are back to recycling old deflection stories.. trump could give… https://t.co/Pm2xnrsusV— Twila💞 I can be trouble #GoodTrouble💞 (@Twila💞 I can be trouble #GoodTrouble💞) 1511188565.0
@CNNPolitics Distraction from #TaxScam, GOP's attempt to bankrupt the country, destroy public healthcare and higher… https://t.co/8TNuvTrNMj— Defeat the GOP (@Defeat the GOP) 1511187678.0
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h/t: Twitter