President Trump singles out former Seahawk Marshawn Lynch
Nov 20, 2017, 6:33 AM | Updated: 11:52 am
(File, Associated Press)
Marshawn Lynch’s decision to stand only for the Mexican national anthem Sunday afternoon didn’t go unnoticed by President Trump.
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Early Monday morning, Trump tweeted that the former Seahawks running back showed “Great disrespect!”
Marshawn Lynch of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders stands for the Mexican Anthem and sits down to boos for our National Anthem. Great disrespect! Next time NFL should suspend him for remainder of season. Attendance and ratings way down.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2017
Lynch and the Oakland Raiders were in Mexico City to play the New England Patriots.
ESPN reports Lynch was initially standing when the U.S. national anthem began, but sat down during the performance. He stood back up when the Mexican anthem was performed.
Lynch’s mother, Delisa, took a jab at Trump later on Monday.
what NFL team do Trump own ? oh yeah they wouldnt let him have one ,!! LMAO https://t.co/1rPa5jfMjE
— Delisa Lynch (@MommaLynch24) November 20, 2017
Though players around the NFL continue to protest during the national anthem to raise awareness of racial injustice, others have opted to stand during the league’s “Salute to Service” games. Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, who has consistently sat during the anthem this season, said he would stand to make it clear that his protests are not aimed at the military.
Trump’s tweet comes just one day after criticizing former basketball player LaVar Ball, who implied Trump made “a big deal out of nothing” over the release of three UCLA basketball players who were caught shoplifting in China.
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“Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!”