Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said Monday during a Facebook Live that he thinks NFL owners shouldn’t tolerate players who kneel for the national anthem.

Manchin explained during the online town hall that he was taught to stand for the anthem as a kid and, as he got older, he “realize the sacrifices that were made” for him by American soldiers he decided it was his “patriotic duty” to always stand.

“This is something that the owners have to address,” Manchin said. “The owners of these football teams that have these contracts with these players, and the conditions these players are going to be playing under, has to step in and say, ‘I’m not gonna tolerate it.'”

“They can make that deal happen,” Manchin affirmed. “The only thing you and I can do right now is turn off the TV if you don’t want to watch.”

“I think everyone should stand and show respect for the flag that represents the greatest country on Earth, that’s shed more blood, lost more lives for the freedom that you and I enjoy,” he concluded.

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