Miami Dolphins safety Michael Thomas said he had to take action to make the world a better place for his daughter after President Trump attacked NFL players like him who kneel during the national anthem.
Thomas became emotional while talking to reporters about Trump’s comments calling for NFL players who kneel to be fired.
“As a man, a father, as an African-American man, as someone in the NFL, as one of those son of bitches, yeah I took it personally,” Thomas said. “But it’s bigger than me.”
“I’ve got a daughter, and she’s going to have to live in this world. And I gotta do what I got to do to make sure she can look at her dad and be like ‘Hey, you did something to try and make a change.’ ”
Dolphins safety Michael Thomas started breaking up when talking about Trump calling him “a son of a b!tch.” pic.twitter.com/Z4wroPcvzW
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) September 24, 2017
Thomas also hit Trump for his attacks on the players, asking “that’s what you’re concerned about my man?”
“You’re the leader of the free world, that’s what you’re talking about,” he said.
NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick was the first player to start kneeling during the anthem to protest racial injustice last season.
Trump began his attacks on the players at a campaign rally Friday night, saying NFL owners should fire players who kneel and “get that son of a bitch off the field right now.”
He also called for people to walk out of football games if they see players protesting.
Trump has been facing intense criticism for his comments. Players throughout the day Sunday have been kneeling at games during the anthem, with three teams choosing to skip the anthem altogether.
Jerry Jones, you do not get to tell ppl how to protest.
STAY IN YOUR LANE!
We don’t want your publicity stunts. Black lives are at stake!
https://twitter.com/deray/status/912484747049349120
Jerry Jones fake ass mofo taking a knee BEFORE the anthem but standing DURING the anthem. Don’t let these mofos change our protest. #PublicityStunt
https://twitter.com/ABC/status/912433807629750274
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/912430964554457088
https://twitter.com/E_Reid35/status/912377560117395456
https://twitter.com/RawStory/status/912392940739334144
https://twitter.com/shomaristone/status/912405747753000960
https://twitter.com/TheRoot/status/912403763889082374
My son said he knew Popovich was going to keep it real even before he heard him speak.
https://twitter.com/timjacobwise/status/912382740020031488
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/912389774140375042
https://twitter.com/RaiderReign/status/912395689388212224
https://twitter.com/RanttNews/status/912370759129075712
https://twitter.com/ChuckModi1/status/912381581343514624
https://twitter.com/undisputed/status/912327330579677184
https://twitter.com/ShadowLeagueTSL/status/912297317738467328
https://twitter.com/TwitterMoments/status/912313027315294208
Shannon Sharpe keeping it REAL!
https://twitter.com/JasmineLWatkins/status/912313021447491584
Just want to say…The arm locking is bullshit fuckery w/o addressing the got damn issue. Police brutality & racism. Police are killing black people with impunity.
https://twitter.com/washmonthly/status/912328524685508609
https://twitter.com/funder/status/912094121778667520
https://twitter.com/3ChicsPolitico/status/912314972100808705
https://twitter.com/USseriously/status/912313545605484544
https://twitter.com/NewDay/status/912296262090838016
https://twitter.com/jnsanchez/status/912292192454086656
https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/912179886877442049
https://twitter.com/Michael31Thomas/status/911425141346840576
https://twitter.com/yourrightscamp/status/912075347843211265
https://twitter.com/TreySongz/status/911946738075758592
https://twitter.com/kharyp/status/911571194427707394
https://twitter.com/ReggieBush/status/911432507890925573
https://twitter.com/3ChicsPolitico/status/866858158781870080
https://twitter.com/ABC7News/status/866803614664114176
https://twitter.com/TheRoot/status/911948359836897280