Trump: NFL Should Suspend Marshawn Lynch For Anthem Protest
President Donald Trump says that the Oakland Raiders should suspend running back Marshawn Lynch for the rest of the season for disrespecting the flag after he did not stand for the anthem.
Before Sunday's game against the New England Patriots in Mexico City, Lynch sat during the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner," as he has done all season. Lynch did stand when the Mexican national anthem was played.
"Great disrespect! Next time NFL should suspend him for remainder of season. Attendance and ratings way down," Trump tweeted on Monday morning.
While Lynch hasn't publicly commented on the protest, he did wear a shirt that said "Everybody vs. Trump" before a Week 4 game against the Denver Broncos.
Introducing SPORTS ILLUSTRATED TV, your new home for classic sports movies, award-winning documentaries, original sports programming and features. Start your seven-day free trial of SI TV now on Amazon Channels.
The previous week, Trump called on NFL players to be suspended or fired for sitting for the national anthem, which prompted a league-wide protest where almost 200 players refused to participate in the anthem.
Vice President Mike Pence also walked out of the Indianapolis Colts home game last month, on orders from Trump, when players from the San Francisco 49ers took a knee during before the anthem, saying he would "not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem."
