Donald Trump ‘would love to see Colin Kaepernick get another shot’ in the NFL

US President stated as recently as last week that he would not watch NFL games if players did not stand for the national anthem

US President Donald Trump says that he would “love to see Colin Kaepernick get another shot” in the NFL.

Kaepernick has not been signed by an NFL franchise since leaving the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 following his decision to take a knee during the national anthem in protest against racial injustice.

Kaepernick’s protest has been replicated by sportspeople across the world in recent weeks following the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis in May.

However, Trump stated as recently as Sunday that he would not watch NFL games if players did not stand for the national anthem.

“As far as kneeling, I would love to see him get another shot,” Trump said in an interview with Sinclair Broadcast Group. “But obviously he has to be able to play well. If he can’t play well, I think it would be very unfair.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted that the league has failed to listen to its players and said he would “encourage” teams to sign Kaepernick, adding that he would also welcome the 32-year-old’s guidance on social justice issues.

“If he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it’s gonna take a team to make that decision,” Goodell said. ”I welcome that, support a club making that decision, and encourage them to do that.”

Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL in 2017, claiming collusion after no teams signed him. He and the NFL settled in 2019.