Watch Journalist April Ryan Confront Donald Trump On The 'Take A Knee' NFL Protests
During an impromptu Rose Garden press conference, journalist April Ryan asked Donald Trump about NFL players taking a knee to protest the police brutality and racism in America.
WATCH: Donald Trump Says NFL Owners Should Fire Players Who Protest The Flag
"What about the police-involved shootings as it relates to the NFL? That is what the players are saying is the crux of why they are taking a knee, sir," Ryan said. "The police-involved shooting issue. What about that?"
"It is very disrespectful to our country when they take a knee during our national anthem. Just hear it," Trump responded. "It is very disrespectful to our country when they take a knee during the national anthem, number one. Number two, the people of our country are very angry at the NFL. All you have to do is look at their ratings and look at their stadiums. You see empty seats where you never saw them before. A lot of people are very angry at it. It is highly disrespectful. They shouldn't do it."
Trump disregarded the entire question as well as Ryan's attempt to explain why the players are protesting in the first place. However, this is not surprising. During a rally in Huntsville, Alabama back in September, Trump denounced NFL players who kneeled during the national anthem.
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners when somebody disrespects our flag to say get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he's fired, he's fired," Trump said. "You know, some owner is going to do that. He's going to say that guy that disrespects our flag, he's fired...And I know we have freedoms and we have freedom of choice and many, many different freedoms. But you know what? It's still totally disrespectful. And, you know, when the NFL ratings are down massively, massively..."
