PROTESTS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Trump praised Nascar drivers early Monday [9-25-17] morning for not protesting the national anthem on Sunday, continuing his weekend tweet storm against the N.F.L. over the league’s refusal to punish players who knelt or sat during ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’
There appeared to be no protests during the national anthem at a Nascar race on Sunday. And Mr. Trump took to Twitter to praise drivers and supporters…
Mr. Trump’s decision to take sides on this issue was the latest example of the president’s proclivity for divisiveness.
On Friday, the president used an expletive when he referred to players who protest the national anthem by kneeling or sitting — a trend that started last season to protest racial and social injustice. Mr. Trump was speaking to Republican supporters during a rally for Senator Luther Strange, of Alabama, who is facing a runoff primary election on Tuesday.
Some Nascar owners said on Sunday that they would not condone protests of the national anthem by racers.
In another tweet on Monday morning, Mr. Trump repeated his assertion that his position about protesting the national anthem was not tied to race.”
-Eileen Sullivan, “Trump Praises Nascar Fans and Again Rails Against N.F.L. Protests,” The New York Times online, Sept. 25, 2017