President Trump scores a win in the culture war as NFL seeks to ensure players stand for national anthem

Three weeks ago, President Donald Trump was widely criticized for fanning racial divisions and inflaming the culture wars after he denounced a black NFL player for kneeling during the national anthem, casting the move as unpatriotic and an affront to the country. The player had intended the demonstration to call attention to police brutality against African Americans. What began as an impromptu, crowd-pleasing line at a Trump rally in Huntsville (AL) to “get that son of a bitch off the field right now!” sparked a national debate over free speech, patriotism, racial identity and cultural values.

Rather than back off and try to unify the nation, President Trump upped the ante relentlessly — and on Oct 10, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell capitulated. Concerned about backlash from fans, Goodell sent a letter to all 32 team owners asking them to support a plan to “move past this controversy” and ensure that players stand during the anthem “to honor our flag and our country.”