For weeks now, the president has criticized NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for not penalizing players who kneel during the anthem to protest racial inequality and police misconduct. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo Trump: NFL's Goodell 'has lost control of the hemorrhaging league'

President Donald Trump on Friday slammed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for losing “control of the hemorrhaging league” over players kneeling during the national anthem.

“Can you believe that the disrespect for our Country, our Flag, our Anthem continues without penalty to the players,” the president tweeted. “The Commissioner has lost control of the hemorrhaging league. Players are the boss!”


For weeks now, the president has criticized Goodell for not penalizing players who kneel during the anthem to protest racial inequality and police misconduct. He has also targeted specific NFL players, such as the Oakland Raiders’ Marshawn Lynch, over the anthem issue, writing that players who don’t kneel during the anthem should be suspended.

Earlier this week, Trump also commented on the possibility of NFL teams keeping players in locker rooms while the national anthem is performed, writing on Twitter that it would be “almost as bad as kneeling.”

