Donald Trump Says NFL Should Have Suspended Colin Kaepernick for Not Standing

President Donald Trump once again gave his opinion on NFL policy Wednesday, saying the league should have suspended Colin Kaepernick when he stopped standing for the national anthem in 2016.

"The NFL should have suspended him for one game and he would have never done it again," Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity. "They could have then suspended him for two games and they could have suspended him again if he did it a third time, for the season, and you would never have had a problem."

Trump's comments fall in line with his "suspend or fire" mantra he's used in discussing protests during the anthem, which have grown more prevalent during his presidency. The NFL has seemingly begun shifting policy toward siding with the president, with commissioner Roger Goodell sending out a memo Tuesday saying the league wants players standing for the anthem.

"Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the national anthem," Goodell wrote, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. "It is an important moment in our game. We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us.

"We also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the Anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues. We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players."

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also publicly stated any player who didn't stand for the anthem would not be allowed to play for his team.

Kaepernick remains unsigned five weeks into the 2017 season despite throwing for 2,241 yards and 16 touchdowns against four interceptions last year. He has by far the best statistical resume of any quarterback on the market and is objectively better than many players who are under NFL contracts. His protest during the anthem, more than his skill level, is seen as the overarching reason for his unemployment.

Trump's level of involvement with NFL policy is unprecedented for a sitting United States president. However, given the recent rhetoric around league offices, it appears Trump's public comments may have their desired effect.