President Donald Trump’s campaign is demanding ESPN show the national anthem during Monday Night Football games.
On Wednesday — in the midst of the news that his former campaign manager was found guilty of tax evasion and bank fraud and his former personal lawyer pleaded guilty to campaign violations — an email signed by the president was sent to supporters asking them to sign a petition.
“I’m calling on you to join me in denouncing this SPINELESS surrender to the politically correct liberal mob,” read the email, signed by Trump.
ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro announced last week that the network will not air the anthem during MNF games this season, which has been the standard in the past.
There may be exceptions as the season rolls along, but otherwise, the network will not show that portion of the game.
CBS Sports will also reportedly not show the anthem portion of pregames.
ESPN declined to comment on Trump’s demand and petition.
The topic has become a hotly debated subject around the country. Players have been taking a knee during the national anthem to protest African-American racial inequality.
A rule change was approved by team owners before the start of the 2018 season, which gives players the protest option of staying in the locker room during the anthem. Should they take a knee on the field, they will be fined.
Still, that has not stopped players from taking a knee during the preseason, now in its third week.
President Trump has made the protest topic one of his primary talking points on social media and at his rallies, going so far as to call any player who takes a knee a “son of a bitch” and saying those athletes should be fired.
Last season, the league and the NFL Players Association supported the athletes’ right to peacefully protest.
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick famously took a knee on the sidelines near the end of his time with the San Francisco 49ers.
