Stevie Wonder took a knee on Saturday ahead of his performance at the 2017 Global Citizen Festival in New York after President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE blasted athletes who participated in the form of protest.

"Tonight, I'm taking a knee for America," the musician said.

"But not just one, knee. I'm taking both knees," he added, getting down on both knees. "Both knees, and prayer for our planet, our future, our leaders of the world."

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Trump on Friday fiercely criticized NFL players and other athletes who protest the national anthem at sporting events, saying that those who do so should be fired — an argument he doubled down on in a tweet on Saturday.

The comments were an apparent swipe at athletes, such as NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick who gained attention last year when he began kneeling during the national anthem before football games to protest racial injustice and police misconduct against people of color in the U.S.

Trump has faced backlash from some NFL players and executives, who have asserted athletes' rights to speak freely.