Taking a knee: Trump insists debate about respecting anthem

Remarks about NFL players have drawn criticism from a lot of quarters for US president

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump denied inflaming racial tensions on Monday, insisting his charged comments that prompted a wave of symbolic protests by NFL players were about patriotism not color.

After his volley of verbal attacks on black athletes led players across the country to kneel during the US national anthem over the weekend, the besieged president played defence on Twitter.

Trump had started the furor by attacking players like Colin Kaepernick — who first took a knee through renditions of the "Star-Spangled Banner" during last year's American football season to protest police brutality toward African Americans — as a "son of a bitch" who should be fired.

In a separate feud, Trump also disinvited basketball superstar Stephen Curry from a White House event.

More than 150 pro football players took a defiant stance on Sunday, kneeling, linking arms or raising clenched fists during the anthem before 14 games.

In response, the US leader doubled down on those remarks by urging fans to boycott the NFL as long as the protests continued.

And on Monday, keeping the issue alive for a fourth day, Trump insisted: "The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem. NFL must respect this!"

12 hours later, he was still at it, denying any rifts about the issue with his influential chief of staff.

"General John Kelly totally agrees with my stance on NFL players and the fact that they should not be disrespecting our flag or great country!"

Trump — who faces low poll numbers and is struggling to enact his agenda — earlier tried to single out the NFL players who protested.

"Many people booed the players who kneeled yesterday [which was a small percentage of total]. These are fans who demand respect for our flag!" he tweeted.

He also pointed to the Pittsburgh Penguins' acceptance of a White House invitation and support from racecar fans.

"So proud of NASCAR and its supporters and fans. They won't put up with disrespecting our Country or our Flag - they said it loud and clear!" tweeted Trump.

Only a handful of NASCAR drivers have been African American.

But driver Dale Earnhardt also took to Twitter, implicitly rebuking Trump with a quote from former president John F Kennedy: "All Americans R granted rights 2 peaceful protests Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."