President Trump

NFL players reacted with rage on Friday after President Trump told NFL bosses to fire players who protest and disrespect the American flag during games.

Trump commented in response to reports that player protests have resulted in low TV ratings and half empty stadiums.

Trump made the statements during a rally for Alabama Senate candidate Luther Strange in Huntsville on Friday night.

The president mocked the player protests and he told football fans to walk out of the stadiums if they see players take a knee during the national anthem.

“When people like yourselves turn on television and you see those people taking the knee when they are playing our great national anthem – the only thing you could do better is if you see it, even if it’s one player, leave the stadium,” Trump said. “I guarantee things will stop.”

Trump also called on his NFL owner pals to fire the players who disrespect the American flag. At least 7 NFL owners donated millions to Trump’s presidential campaign.

“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b-tch off the field right now… He is fired.'”

NFL players were livid after hearing Trump’s remarks. Many of them took to social media to vent their anger at the Commander-in-Chief.

Washington Redskins linebacker Zach Brown tweeted that Trump should stay in his place.

Sports anchor Jemele Hill, who almost lost her job for calling Trump a “white supremacist” and “a bigot” said Trump’s statements will only lead to more protests on the field.

“Just so we’re clear: the president’s comments will only incite more player protests, not quell them,” she tweeted on Friday.

The Rev. Al Sharpton called the president’s statements “incendiary and misogynistic”, and the NFL responded on Saturday, calling Trump’s comments “divisive”.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

The NFL Players’ Union also issued a statement, saying they will never back down from protecting the players’ rights to protest.