Around 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on September 26, President Donald Trump took to Twitter – calling for the NFL to implement a rule which requires its players to stand for the national anthem.

“The NFL has all sorts of rules and regulations,” the tweet read. “The only way out for them is to set a rule that you can’t kneel during our National Anthem!”

The tweet was the latest in a string of comments the President has made since last Friday about widespread refusal to stand for the national anthem precipitated by increased police brutality against people of color and racial profiling in the United States.

The protests started with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and current free agent Colin Kaepernick, who began kneeling during the anthem in August 2016 – during the NFL’s preseason.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said to NFL Media on August 26, 2016. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.”

Kaepernick has faced a great deal of criticism for his decision, compounded by opting out of his contract with the 49ers ahead of the expected end date. His supporters speculate that his purported release is associated with the protests.

On Sunday, September 24 – in a show of support for protests of the national anthem – NFL players around the league sat, knelt, or remained in their locker rooms with their teammates during the anthem while others stood, locking their arms, as the crowds in the stands reacted passionately. Some team owners,  including Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, knelt alongside their players.

Sophomore Rohan Jain, who attended Sunday’s Chicago Bears game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, favors the NFL’s allowing players to kneel during the national anthem. “I think it’s really great that the NFL is supporting unity,” he said, “and even when the President tries to divide up sports, which are supposed to bring people together, I thought that it was great that all the players showed unity.”

Trump justified the release of NFL players who protest the national anthem. “You cannot have people disrespecting our national anthem, our flag, our country, and that’s what they’re doing,” he said. “And in my opinion, the NFL has to change. Or you know what’s going to happen? Their business is going to hell.”

The President also suggested that the NFL fire players who kneel during the national anthem.