President Donald Trump didn't tweet about Nike's new Colin Kaepernick ad yesterday, as we all had expected he would, but that didn't mean he was going to avoid the topic altogether. During an interview with The Daily Caller on Tuesday, Trump spoke about the 30th anniversary "Just Do It" campaign, which features Kaepernick along with the caption, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."
In short, Trump says the ad sends "a terrible message."
“I think it’s a terrible message that they’re sending and the purpose of them doing it — maybe there’s a reason for them doing it,” Trump said (H/T Yahoo Sports).
“But I think as far as sending a message, I think it’s a terrible message and a message that shouldn’t be sent,” Trump said. “There’s no reason for it.”
Trump added, “As much as I disagree with the Colin Kaepernick endorsement, in another way — I mean, I wouldn’t have done it. In another way, it is what this country is all about, that you have certain freedoms to do things that other people think you shouldn’t do, but I personally am on a different side of it.”
The NFL released a statement last night in wake of the viral ad which reads, "The National Football League believes in dialogue, understanding and unity. We embrace the role and responsibility of everyone involved with this game to promote meaningful, positive change in our communities. The social justice issues that Colin and other professional athletes have raised deserve our attention and action."
Trump addressed Nike and the NFL on twitter this morning with the following, "Just like the NFL, whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way? As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch, and always will, until they stand for the FLAG!"
https://twitter.com/_/status/1037334510159966214
