President Donald Trump has given his thoughts on Nike's divisive deal with Colin Kaepernick.
In an interview with The Daily Caller, Trump said. “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.”
He continued, “But I think as far as sending a message, I think it’s a terrible message and a message that shouldn’t be sent. There’s no reason for it.”
Trump has been a vocal critic of NFL players’ “take a knee” protest but later in the interview, he softened his stance. “As much as I disagree with the Colin Kaepernick endorsement, in another way — I mean, I wouldn’t have done it," he said.
"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 also issued a positive statement about the campaign with the unsigned athlete. “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,” Jocelyn Moore, the NFL’s Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs said.
“The social justice issues that Colin and other professional athletes have raised deserve our attention and action.”
In other news, Nike stock takes a hit following Kaepernick campaign.