ADVERTISEMENT

Trump trashes the NFL's ratings but praises Dallas Cowboys' anthem display as 'big progress'

Trump has again weighed in on NFL players kneeling before games, this time with praise for the Dallas Cowboys.

President Donald Trump has again weighed in on protests by NFL players during the national anthem, this time with an early-morning tweetstorm that heaped praise on the Dallas Cowboys while trashing the league generally.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trump tweeted that NFL ratings were "way down except before game starts, when people tune in to see whether or not our country will be disrespected!"

Ratings are down in the NFL this year, a continuing trend from last season.

Trump went on to address Monday night's football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals, where the entire Cowboys team knelt before the anthem but stood during it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trump tweeted that when the Cowboys knelt before the anthem, it resulted in the loudest booing he had ever heard — "great anger." Trump did not personally attend the game, however, and the Cowboys were the away team.

The Cowboys' decision to stand for the anthem itself drew praise from the president, who characterized it as "big progress being made."

The NFL has played the national anthem before games for decades, but in 2009 it began to play the song with the players on the field. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback then playing for the 49ers, protested police treatment of minorities by sitting during the anthem. The move divided and politicized the NFL, but with Kaepernick without a team this season it had mostly faded from conversation before Trump over the weekend spoke out against players who did not stand for the anthem.

"But while Dallas dropped to its knees as a team, they all stood up for our National Anthem," Trump concluded. "Big progress being made-we all love our country!"

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Africa’s richest man Dangote stands between Europe and $17 billion in revenue

Africa’s richest man Dangote stands between Europe and $17 billion in revenue

After months of exchanging blows, Kenya and Uganda takes steps towards resolution

After months of exchanging blows, Kenya and Uganda takes steps towards resolution

Africa's first black billionaire could join $2.9 billion Vivendi bid for MultiChoice

Africa's first black billionaire could join $2.9 billion Vivendi bid for MultiChoice

10 most dangerous African countries in 2024

10 most dangerous African countries in 2024

Russia’s nuclear influence expands further north of Africa

Russia’s nuclear influence expands further north of Africa

ADVERTISEMENT