Thanks to Colin Kaepernick’s silent “taking a knee” protest, the NFL became a politically charged subject on the campaign trail during the 2016 election. Hillary Clinton took the side of liberals who pretended that the protest was somehow patriotic, while Trump wanted “that son of a b—- off the field.”
As was the case with many other issues, the two differed strongly.
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The public has appeared to take Trump’s side, however, as the NFL’s ratings continue to dwindle.
So it’s no surprise that Trump isn’t going to be giving the League a ratings boost anytime soon by continuing a football tradition started by George W. Bush over a decade ago. Starting with W., there’s been an annual presidential interview before the Super Bowl, but you won’t be seeing Trump this Sunday.
As TheWildCard reported,
“He is not doing a Super Bowl interview,” an anonymous White House official confirmed.
CNN also cited their sources at NBC, who confirmed that the White House had declined an interview.
NBC will air the Super Bowl on Sunday, in a game pitting the Philadelphia Eagles against the New England Patriots.
The tradition was originated by Bush in 2004. Barack Obama then did one every year of his presidency starting in 2009.
The tradition was carried on by Trump last year.
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Clearly, the resurgence of “taking the knee protests” last September, this time as a silent protest of his presidency, have changed the President’s attitude.
His Super Bowl interview last year was granted to Bill O’Reilly, who was still employed at Fox News at the time.
NBC reportedly tried to pitch Trump on the fact that the Super Bowl has traditionally been a ratings juggernaut, and that Trump could reach a massive audience with his pregame interview. Clearly, that pitch failed.
But it’s hard to blame Trump for wanting to avoid an interview with NBC. Even boosted ratings aren’t worth the risk of a reporter like Lester Holt trying to catch him in a “gotcha!” moment.
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Trump’s presidency alone has already been a ratings boon for NBC – why would he want to give them anymore?
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He should have done an interview with FOX and told the American people to boycott the NFL until the NFL cleans up its act. Do not invite the winner to the People’s House either!!!
The NFL disses our country, our culture, our military personnel…and even our president. They’ve continued to stick their middle fingers up while they kneel in hatred. Now the Eagles are saying they won’t show up to the White House for congratulations.
That’s fine with most of the country. Trump didn’t do a pre-game interview, and hopefully he won’t do the after-game congratulatory meeting.
The Eagles can take their trophy and stick it where the sun don’t shine. Because they won’t have it long….my Patriots will take it back!
I think Fox has been busy exposing the corruption and criminality of the Obama administration since no other news outlet is reporting on it. I’d rather see them do that then give credence to players who hate the country.
He should have offered Fox an interview at the same time.
I’m not watching the Bowl game or any future NFL programming. I’m done. I think a lot of Americans not only feel the same way but realize there’e a lot more interesting things one can do with time spent watching overpaid youngsters disrespect our nation.
Reach a massive audience? All the President has to do is say, “Boo”, and all the networks cover it. I’m sure he could even reach a more massive audience on Twitter. I thought this was going to say he wasn’t going to invite the winning team to the White House. I bet he doesn’t do that, either.
Good job Mr. President don’t give any support to this bunch of ungrateful bums. Don’t invite the winners to the White House either, as the leftist will only make it a sham. As a veteran I applaud your decision.
I’m ready for super bowl Sunday with a stack of DVDs to watch instead… It’s not a great choice given the morons in Hollywood and their blind tribal bond with the insidious left.
I stopped watching the NFL when they made it clear that they have no respect for America. Superbowl? ANYONE watching ANY NFL game is an idiot.
What would be better would be to go and fill the stadium, and as soon as the last note of the anthem is played, have a mass walkout to show protest. The only way they would be able to fill the seats now would be to go out on the street and give those tickets away. (They might try that, I wouldn’t put it past them.
I hope that the Super Bowl is a flop. All Vetran’s should not watch or go to it. If the NFL wants to cater to those that kneel It’s all very un American.
All citizens should continue to boycott the NFL. Our country can ill afford the disrespect of our Anthem, Flag, and Veterans that the NFL now represents.
All citizens should continue to boycott the NFL. Our country can ill afford the disrespect of our Anthem, Flag, and Veterans that the NFL now represents.
Something that began a mere decade ago, can hardly be called a “tradition”.
It is my opinion that everyone of the kneeler’s and all of those who have supported them are nothing but traitors to our Country, it’s Citizens, our Veterans and our present Military personnel. I haven’t watched a single NFL game since the first kneeling and will never watch an NFL football game for the rest of my life. Also any fan that is still going to the games or watching the games on TV you to me are just as bad as the kneeler’s. What happened to our Patriotic Nation? Our President is the most Patriotic President we have had in a long time and it is H
is right to deny any interview before the Super Bowl as I am pretty sure that like myself He will not be watching the Super Bowl along with the rest of us Patriotic Americans. If we all stopped watching any NFL football from the time of the first kneeling all of this would have been over by now, but there are those that are not Patriotic Americans and still watch the games and that is their right but as a Veteran who was all shot up during the Vietnam War fighting for this Country, it’s Citizens, our Flag and our National Anthem and survived I don’t have to like you and I don’t. As far as I’m concerned the NFL no longer exists and I don’t even miss any of the traitorous bastards or those who still support them.
It is my opinion that everyone of the kneeler’s and all of those who have supported them are nothing but traitors to our Country, it’s Citizens, our Veterans and our present Military personnel. I haven’t watched a single NFL game since the first kneeling and will never watch an NFL football game for the rest of my life. Also any fan that is still going to the games or watching the games on TV you to me are just as bad as the kneeler’s. What happened to our Patriotic Nation? Our President is the most Patriotic President we have had in a long time and it is H
is right to deny any interview before the Super Bowl as I am pretty sure that like myself He will not be watching the Super Bowl along with the rest of us Patriotic Americans. If we all stopped watching any NFL football from the time of the first kneeling all of this would have been over by now, but there are those that are not Patriotic Americans and still watch the games and that is their right but as a Veteran who was all shot up during the Vietnam War fighting for this Country, it’s Citizens, our Flag and our National Anthem and survived I don’t have to like you and I don’t. As far as I’m concerned the NFL no longer exists and I don’t even miss any of the traitorous bastards or those who still support them.
The Sixth Amendment to our Constitution requires a fair and speedy trial before an impartial jury for those accused of a crime.
The Eighth Amendment to our Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
The athletes are protesting the violation of OUR Constitution. “Taking a knee” is not the same as “taking a bullet” protecting our Constitution. But, the athletes and our military are on the same side. Why is protesting violations of the Constitution a problem?
I as a veteran whose Military Service of 40+ years has been denigrated by those in the NFL who refuse to stand in honor of the Nation I Served support the Presidents decision not to do an NFL pre-game interview.
I as a veteran whose Military Service of 40+ years has been denigrated by those in the NFL who refuse to stand in honor of the Nation I Served support the Presidents decision not to do an NFL pre-game interview.
I guess Bill Clinton couldn’t be reached. Maybe he was interviewing more interns to stain their dresses, dipwad.
Really enjoyed the Bill O’Reilly segment above. Always fun to watch one sexual predator sing the praises of another.
Really enjoyed the Bill O’Reilly segment above. Always fun to watch one sexual predator sing the praises of another.
Trump is a True American Oriented, America First President and the ONLY one we have had since Ronald Reagan. I have been a lifelong Patriot’s fan but have not watched a game since this Kaepernick Kommunist and his NFL fellow travelers of the New World Order have DISRESPECTED EVERY American who served Honorably to provide them the right to be rectal cavities. In this Vietnam disabled veteran’s opinion, their disrespect is anathema and if I were President, I would try to make it a federal crime to disrespect the flag, anthem and pledge of Allegiance. If you so despise this country, its values and freedoms and choices, you have no place here legitimately. HELL., they even dishonor the memory of one of their own, former NFL player Pat Tillman, who left the NFL to fight in the War on terror and DIED defending all these termites are protesting.! The miitary should NEVER provide flyovers or have ANY promotional events for the NFL until they mend their New World Order attitudes and cherish the freedoms and choices so very many of ALL RACES, have died and sacrificed blood limbs , sight and hearing and in some cases even the loss permanently of sexual function. As one exposed to all of these
disabilities but whose own originated not by enemy action, but by the use of Agent Orange by our own government n its own troops and lied about the effects as a matter of a sick foreign policy and a matter of political party expediency, I am one dedicated to draining the Swamp that created this disrespect for ALL veterans. Putting the NFL out of business would be a Wonderful start and out the fear of GOD into these frauds, both in Congress and the NFL; ditto for the FBI and other corrupted agencies. period
The media hates our President. But for some reason; the past 2 years they have given him 24/7 coverage FREE. Billions of Dollars of FREE coverage. You gotta admit, President TRUMP is a GENIUS.
The media hates our President. But for some reason; the past 2 years they have given him 24/7 coverage FREE. Billions of Dollars of FREE coverage. You gotta admit, President TRUMP is a GENIUS.
I am proud to say that I have not stooped low enough to watch a single professional football game since 1982. My reason is mine only and not forced onto anyone else. I will continue to not watch until the NFL becomes part of the United States.
Our POTUS is a man of conviction! Finally we found some backbone
Our POTUS is a man of conviction! Finally we found some backbone
Mating rituals of snails? I am in hysterics! Is there enough brain bleach to erase this image? Thank you, Larry, for the entertainment
Screw the National Felon League, I’d prefer watching the mating rituals of snails over those crybaby felons. Or watching my laundry dry.
Screw the National Felon League, I’d prefer watching the mating rituals of snails over those crybaby felons. Or watching my laundry dry.
The NFL and their “superbowl” has not been welcomed in my home going two years now. There are millions who feel the same way I do, and hopefully companies that think paying the outrageous fees the league and networks charge for commercial times will remember this as well…the NFL doesn’t hold the lofty level it once did in this country.
The NFL and their “superbowl” has not been welcomed in my home going two years now. There are millions who feel the same way I do, and hopefully companies that think paying the outrageous fees the league and networks charge for commercial times will remember this as well…the NFL doesn’t hold the lofty level it once did in this country.
The NFL did itself no favors by rehiring the main cause of the continuing disrespect, Roger Goodell, who has been the protection behind the anti- American FRAUDS of the National Felons league. One way to perhaps amend THAT inequity is for ALL fans of EVERY team to demand he be fired and then a pro-American policy put in place. Those who wish to protest have every right to do so but, it should NOT be in a competitive Field sport or used as a bad example for our children. IF YOU HATE THIS COUNTRY SO, LEAVE IT AND DO NOT LET THE DOOR HIT YOUR WORTHLESS BACKSIDE AS YOU EXIT!
I became a Pro Football fan in Fall of 1970 starting college in Minnesota. I hadn’t even bothered to watch the Vikings lose their first Super Bowl to Kansas City earlier in the year. I would’ve given up my “First Born” rather than miss them in a Super Bowl after that. Then Seattle got their Franchise in ’76 and I also became a Seahawk fan. That all began to change the season before last with the Kaepernick protests. I wrote letters and appended notes on player’s and coaches’ Fb pages imploring them not to follow his example, and that I couldn’t countenance their actions as a Veteran. I have since canceled my NFL Sunday Ticket, and no longer attend the usual two games a year that I once did. While not huge, that is $1000 I no longer spend on the NFL while also not watching their sponsor’s commercials on TV. I wavered watching one playoff game this year, and was heartened at the patriotic pregame festivities. I was quickly disabused of any change when the NFL rejected a Veteran’s group wanting to place an ad in the Super Bowl brochure asking fans to stand and respect the Flag. That was the “Last Straw,” and I pledge not to watch another NFL game until there is a formal apology by the League and all players are once again standing for the Anthem.
Any kind of recognition by the President is undeserved. The NFL gave up tradition at their own expense earlier this year. Adios, fools…
Any kind of recognition by the President is undeserved. The NFL gave up tradition at their own expense earlier this year. Adios, fools…
Anywho, good job Mr. President. We The People say job well done, keep up the good fight, and thank you for listening.
Tradition? Takes more than two presidencies to start a tradition. That’s not even a generation. Generations of people are the upholders of traditions.
Tradition? Takes more than two presidencies to start a tradition. That’s not even a generation. Generations of people are the upholders of traditions.
What would please me most to see…? A pre-game announcement by a bunch of FB players who had their jerseys display OUR FLAG, just as like Fighter Pilot’s flight suit…and…and…rather than a beautiful lady (or gent) alone sing the Anthem, all the players circled the mike and sang it in unison and concert with the lead singer…!
Remember…NATIONAL MEANS…THE… “AMERICAN”…NATIONAL Football League…!
What would please me most to see…? A pre-game announcement by a bunch of FB players who had their jerseys display OUR FLAG, just as like Fighter Pilot’s flight suit…and…and…rather than a beautiful lady (or gent) alone sing the Anthem, all the players circled the mike and sang it in unison and concert with the lead singer…!
Remember…NATIONAL MEANS…THE… “AMERICAN”…NATIONAL Football League…!
And, lest we forget, Donald was big-time into Football…so this NFL disrespect hurts beyond measure for us as well as Donald…unless something really profound happens first…like…
A truly believable apology and resurgence to honor Our Anthem And Flag…the grandest symbols of freedom ever created…by man…from God..
BTW…
Both Leavenworth and Gitmo are resourcing multiple ‘orange suits’ for the long line now draining from the swamp. Special fit requirements are scheduled for former presidents and state dept. heads. Simple quarters are being fumigated for future residents, with few amenities, beyond those with a faucet and flush handle.
And, lest we forget, Donald was big-time into Football…so this NFL disrespect hurts beyond measure for us as well as Donald…unless something really profound happens first…like…
A truly believable apology and resurgence to honor Our Anthem And Flag…the grandest symbols of freedom ever created…by man…from God..
BTW…
Both Leavenworth and Gitmo are resourcing multiple ‘orange suits’ for the long line now draining from the swamp. Special fit requirements are scheduled for former presidents and state dept. heads. Simple quarters are being fumigated for future residents, with few amenities, beyond those with a faucet and flush handle.
THANK GOD TRUMP DID NOT GO, THE NFL IS DONE, STICK A FORK IN THEM. I HAVE BEEN A FOOTBALL FAN ALL MY LIFE, COACHED KID LEAGUE FOOT BALL AND BASE BALL FOR 20 YEARS, BUT I WOULD NOT WALK ACROSS THE STREET TO SEE A PRO FOOT BALL GAME IF I HAD FREE TICKETS. I LIKE WHAT THE NEW LEAGUE SOUNDS LIKE. I WILL WATCH IT. PLAYERS WILL HONOR THE FLAG AND THIS COUNTRY OR GET CUT.
THANK GOD TRUMP DID NOT GO, THE NFL IS DONE, STICK A FORK IN THEM. I HAVE BEEN A FOOTBALL FAN ALL MY LIFE, COACHED KID LEAGUE FOOT BALL AND BASE BALL FOR 20 YEARS, BUT I WOULD NOT WALK ACROSS THE STREET TO SEE A PRO FOOT BALL GAME IF I HAD FREE TICKETS. I LIKE WHAT THE NEW LEAGUE SOUNDS LIKE. I WILL WATCH IT. PLAYERS WILL HONOR THE FLAG AND THIS COUNTRY OR GET CUT.
We are making a difference in the NFL, regardless of what others say. My fear – the NFL is trying to wait us out: “This won’t last forever, they’ll cave before we do.” And there is some evidence that is true. America, don’t give up on America. And if you need to recharge, go to a Gold Star page. Listen to those that lost a loved one. Read the names that have fought and died for our country, all wars. Read about how many American’s write about their love of country. We can never give up or they win!!!
We are making a difference in the NFL, regardless of what others say. My fear – the NFL is trying to wait us out: “This won’t last forever, they’ll cave before we do.” And there is some evidence that is true. America, don’t give up on America. And if you need to recharge, go to a Gold Star page. Listen to those that lost a loved one. Read the names that have fought and died for our country, all wars. Read about how many American’s write about their love of country. We can never give up or they win!!!
We are making a difference in the NFL, regardless of what others say. My fear – the NFL is trying to wait us out: “This won’t last forever, they’ll cave before we do.” And there is some evidence that is true. America, don’t give up on America. And if you need to recharge, go to a Gold Star page. Listen to those that lost a loved one. Read the names that have fought and died for our country, all wars. Read about how many American’s write about their love of country. We can never give up or they win!!!
Good call by the President. Don’t legitimize the NFL.