During a Friday night rally in Alabama, Donald Trump attacked NFL players who have protested police brutality and racism against black Americans by sitting or kneeling during the national anthem.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out, you’re fired!”
The outburst was met with widespread fury, and has resulted in sweeping protests around the NFL today.
• At the first NFL game held since Trump's remarks, members of the Ravens and the Jaguars both knelt during the anthem before their London game. Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, who had contributed $1 million to Trump's inauguration, locked arms with members of the team.
• Numerous members of both the Bills and the Broncos knelt for the anthem before their Buffalo game.
• Over a dozen members of the New England Patriots knelt during the anthem. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, also a $1 million inaugural donor, said he was "deeply disappointed by the tone" of Trump's statements.
• In New Jersey, five Dolphins players knelt for the anthem, while Dolphins owner Stephen Ross joined arms with the rest of the team's players; Jets CEO Chris Johnson did the same on the other side of the field.
• The Pittsburg Steelers chose as a team to remain in their locker room during the national anthem, while the Chicago Bears linked arms on the sidelines.
• In Detroit, Rico LaVelle dropped to one knee as he sang the closing note of the anthem.
• Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue called Trump's comments "insulting and disgraceful." Longtime NFL broadcaster James Brown blasted Trump’s comments.
• The NFL itself will air a primetime advertisement promoting unity in response to Trump's statement.
"We think this is the single best response to demonstrate what we are about," an NFL spokesman told CNN. "It stands in stark contrast to some who practice the politics of division."
As NFL players, staff, and commenters continue to condemn Trump’s remarks, it's almost certain that the protests will continue before today's other games.