And now at least one NHL player has joined the conversation.
Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets tweeted what appears to be a disagreement with a stance taken by Trump, the first NHL player known to do so.
The comments stem from a segment of Trump’s speech Friday night, which addressed NFL players protesting the national anthem by kneeling or sitting while it is played before games.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he’s fired!’” Trump said.
On Saturday, he doubled down on those comments, reiterating his opinion on Twitter in a series of tweets, drawing the ire of many football players.
Wheeler, originally from Plymouth, Minnesota, has represented the United States in international tournaments, including at the 2016 World Cup when head coach John Tortorella said he would bench any players who protested the national anthem.
Trump also used Twitter on Saturday to rescind a White House invitation to the 2017 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, causing a similar negative reaction on social media from NBA players.
