"The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem. Total disrespect for our great country!" President Donald Trump tweeted. | Evan Vucci/AP Trump slams NFL's decision to not penalize players who take a knee during anthem

President Donald Trump on Wednesday blasted the National Football League's decision to not discipline players who take a knee during the national anthem, calling it a "total disrespect" to the United States.

"The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem. Total disrespect for our great country!" the president wrote on Twitter.


On Tuesday, following a meeting with owners and players, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the league would not force players to stand for the national anthem. Goodell sent a memo last week that indicated the NFL was developing a plan to penalize players who did not stand for the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality.

Trump has called out the NFL for players who have decided to kneel during the national anthem over the past couple of weeks.

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On Oct. 8, Vice President Mike Pence walked out of a football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers after some players knelt during the national anthem. Trump tweeted later that day that he asked Pence to leave the game if players protested the anthem.