NFL players are quickly firing back after Donald Trump went on a vulgar rant during his campaign speech in Alabama on Friday, with one calling him a “real life clown/troll” and another saying his remarks were a “shame and disgrace.”
The Huffington Post gathered a long list of players responding to Trump’s dumpster fire speech in Alabama, and it’s clear that these athletes are only more encouraged after Trump’s comments.
Here are some of the responses:
I can’t take anything our Celebrity in Chief says seriously. He’s a real life clown/troll 🤡
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— George Iloka (@George_iloka) September 23, 2017
When will people learn that fear won’t make someone sit down. It quite possibly will make more stand up for what they believe in.
— Chris Conley (@_flight17_) September 23, 2017
It’s a shame and disgrace when you have the President of the US calling citizens of the country sons of a bitches.
— Bishop Sankey (@BishopSankey) September 23, 2017
Smh! Gives more reason https://t.co/TyVCJgQK0L
— T.J. Ward (@BossWard43) September 23, 2017
I’m a full supporter of the Flag & This country! Trust Me! But this can’t be real! https://t.co/GAPkZPB8hz
— Rishard Matthews (@_RMatthews) September 23, 2017
The backlash came after Trump used a campaign rally in Alabama – friendly territory for a man to attack a group of athletes who are largely African American – to tell NFL owners to “get that son of a b**** off the field” when a player kneels during the National Anthem.
The idea that Trump would use this language in a public address is stunning in and of itself. The fact that news organizations now have to decide whether to bleep out something said by the President of the United States is incredible.
But it’s a whole new level of shame when he’s using this language to attack Americans for exercising their rights and to urge private businesses to fire certain employees.
Luckily, it hasn’t appeared to work. Instead of backing down or being intimidated by the irresponsible man in the White House, NFL players and the league’s commissioner have joined together in condemning the president.
In an official statement, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, “Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities.”
Once again, Trump is proving that nobody is currently doing more damage to American values and the stars and stripes more than he is – not the NFL, not the NBA, not the Emmys or ESPN or the media.
After his unhinged rant in Alabama on Friday, something tells me the number of players who choose to take a knee this weekend will increase tenfold.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
