Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump fired back at San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick after he said Trump knows nothing about race and, when it comes to African Americans, the country still needs to be made "great for the first time."

In an appearance on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" on Wednesday, Trump said he has not heard what Kaepernick has been saying about him personally, but said his protest against standing for the national anthem before NFL games is "disgraceful."

"Is he starting yet or is he still a second-string quarterback?" Trump said. "He's making a tremendous amount of money. He's leading the American dream. He's trying to make a point. But I don't think he’s making it the correct way."

When host Bill O'Reilly asked if he would fire Kaepernick if he were the team owner, Trump replied, "Personally, if it was me, I would not be happy if I were the team owner, and I don't think I'm going to tell you what I would do, but I'm telling you, I would take a different position."

Pressed further, Trump said, "I think what he is doing is very bad for the spirit of the country."