Colin Kaepernick played the victim over his anti-American protests, accusing former President Donald Trump of “targeting” and “minimizing” him.
The former NFL quarterback spoke about the controversy he sparked when he took a knee in 2016 during the national anthem at San Francisco 49ers games, telling the Wall Street Journal podcast, “The Future of Everything” that it’s “easier for him to analyze” the events now than at the time.
“I think one of the key elements that is important to think about in relation to that moment is what does it actually mean to at that point have a then-sitting president being willing to target an individual citizen and using the power of their office, the power of their influence, to be able to try to minimize an individual and their aspirations,” Kaepernick said.
“So, thinking back to that moment, I also think, plays really prevalent into where we are at today and the future that we decide to build together,” Kaepernick added.
As president at the time, Trump criticized the former football player who was not signed by another team.
At a rally in Louisville, Kentucky, in March 2017. Trump said “They [NFL owners] don’t want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump. Do you believe that?”
“The NFL cannot disrespect our country. They cannot disrespect our flag or our national anthem,” Trump told Fox News later that year.
Besides complaining about Trump, Kaepernick also talked about the riots in 2020 following the death of drug addict George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“I think the fundamental piece of it is should people be able to live a better life, and should people be able to live without the threat of death? I think that fundamentally is the basis of this, and, if we take it a step further, should people be discriminated against because of the color of their skin or because of their religion or because of where they live or because of their socioeconomic status?” the 36-year-old said.
Seven years after Trump’s criticism of the former quarterback, it seems Kaepernick is still not winning many over on social media.
Can this individual just go away already!?!?!?! Unreal…. Get a life. No one cares and never did, you self centered, self righteous and self serving clown.
— Ken_Son (@ken_Son55) November 3, 2024
Nobody cares what Kaepernick thinks, does, or says.
— Dana Simmens (@simmens_dana) November 3, 2024
He sat during the anthem
He filed a suit against the NFL
He settled out of court w/NFL
He’s still sitting.
He chose his own course— Bill Dubs (@billdubs) November 3, 2024
No one’s cares about Kaepernick’s feelings
— mitrajoon (@mitrajoon246071) November 3, 2024
This guy has more excuses for failures than I’ve ever seen in my life
— JustaYinzer (@Just_a_yinzer) November 3, 2024
He has no one to blame but himself. Actions have consequences.
— Carey (@Americanmom74) November 3, 2024
Desperate for attention.
— Korax Korvos (@KorvosKorax) November 3, 2024
He should’ve thought about before he ‘targeted’ and ‘minimized’ the symbol of freedom in front of millions of American citizens. He got what he deserved.
— minerva santo-tomas (@cardioquack) November 3, 2024
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