In an interview with Fox News, the president supported the NFL’s policy that requires players to stand for the national anthem or remain in the locker room.
“I think that’s good,” Trump said. “I don’t think people should be staying in locker rooms, but still I think it’s good. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.”
Marshall called the president’s comments “disgusting.”
“I say ‘disgusting’ because of our First Amendment rights,” Marshall said. “We have freedom of speech, right? Freedom to protest? Because somebody decides to protest something, now have to be kicked out of the country? That’s not how things should work, in my opinion. … Just because somebody disagrees with something, or if I didn’t stand for the anthem, or if I don’t like what’s going on, that’s basically him saying I should be kicked out the country.
“We’re supposed to have a conversation about things, talk about things, work things through. Everybody is not gonna agree on things, everybody is not gonna have the same opinion on things. So just because somebody disagrees or has an issue with something that’s going on in this country, it doesn’t mean that they should pack up and leave. That’s absurd, in my opinion.”
Marshall said he believes the NFL’s new anthem policy, approved at the league meetings on Wednesday, is not a real solution.
“I don’t like it, but that’s my opinion. I don’t like it. I understand it, though. I don’t like it, but I understand it and what they’re trying to protect — they’re trying to protect the shield,” he said, referring to the NFL’s emblem.
“The reason we did this in the first place was to bring attention to police brutality,” Marshall continued. “That’s the reason why we took a knee, and that was just a symbol of what was going on, just like the flag is a symbol of America. So taking a knee was a symbol, and the work came after that. Colin has been doing work, I’ve been doing work, Malcolm Jenkins, a bunch of guys have been doing work. So to me, the knee wasn’t the end all, be all. There should have been action behind the knee, and there was.”
Agreed! @BMarshh Thank you for having the courage to speak out on behalf of the right of EVERY American to protest injustice. I appreciate you using your platform to peacefully, positively & constructively lead change, and am proud to have my sons look up to you. #NFLAnthemPolicy https://t.co/Ko4AABhQN4
— sarah (@sarahmg303) May 24, 2018
One person i can say i have met that does it on and off the field @BMarshh. His comments today spoke not just for the athletes but for every person in this world who's voice can not be heard. We appreciate you B, keep doing things in the Denver and Las Vegas community
— Kobe Jelly Bean (@PrinceOFtheFAM) May 24, 2018
@BMarshh thank you for all you do in our communities. We need more people like you, not less #NFL #NationalAnthem #NF https://t.co/NetZFCJgrX
— Mike Gomez πΊπΈπ²π½ (@MiggyGomz) May 24, 2018
He is an outstanding man and player!! Admire your work on and off the field! β€οΈππ½ππ½πI think the policy passed yesterday blows and so does the comments from potusπ€¦π½ββοΈ
— jenny kapelke (@jennykapelke33) May 24, 2018
@BMarshh you playin receiver now? pic.twitter.com/SuYA6poSMi
— Jacob Virissimo (@TheKingJacob14) May 24, 2018