NY Giants Co-Owner Criticizes Trump Over NFL Anthem Policy

The NFL announced in May that teams will be fined if a player kneels during the national anthem.

After the NFL enacted a policy to penalize teams whose players kneel during the national anthem, New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch says he hopes fans have heard the last from President Donald Trump on the controversy.

“Hopefully he’ll have much more going on that he’s going have to deal with and should deal with and must deal with than worrying about what NFL players do,” Tisch told The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday night at the premiere of The Equalizer 2 (Tisch is a producer of the film). “He has no understanding of why they take a knee or why they’re protesting. When the new season starts, I hope his priorities are not criticizing the NFL and telling owners what to do and what not to do.”

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 in protest against police brutality and racial inequities in the justice system.

The silent protest became a cultural rallying cry for President Trump.

Some NFL owners reportedly voted to approve the new policy in May. Players now have the option of staying in the locker room during "The Star-Spangled Banner," but are required to stand if they come on the field. Teams, and not the players, will be fined for violations.

Team owners will have the option to fine their players if they kneel. “We support our players,” Tisch said. “They are not going to be punished. There is not going to be any punitive action taking place against them.”