Giants Owner Steve Tisch: Donald Trump Doesn't Understand Protests During Anthem

Donald Trump has been extremely critical of the NFL in the past for protests during the national anthem, and with the controversial topic once again in the spotlight, one owner has a message for the president.

"Hopefully he'll have much more going on that he's going have to deal with and should deal with and must deal with than worrying about what NFL players do," New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch told The Hollywood Reporter's Marc Malkin. "He has no understanding of why they take a knee or why they're protesting. When the new season starts, I hope his priorities are not criticizing the NFL and telling owners what to do and what not to do."

The NFL announced in May that it had approved a new policy for the 2018 season requiring all on-field personnel to stand on the field or remain in the locker room for the anthem. If a player chose to protest on the sideline during the anthem, his respective team could be fined by the league. 

That new policy prompted a response from the NFL Players Association:

Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reported on Thursday that the Miami Dolphins made it clear to their players that anyone who protested next season would be subject to fines and/or a suspension of up to four games.

Following significant backlash, the NFL and the NFLPA announced a "standstill agreement" on the issue:

In the 2016 preseason, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the first NFL player to protest social injustice and police brutality during the anthem. Many players have followed suit since, and the protests became widespread after comments Trump made at a political rally in Alabama in September:

When the NFL's policy on protests was announced, Trump said players who kneel "shouldn't be in the country":

He also described the NFL as "weak and out of control" as a response to protests in November. He also said in July that the league's new policy was "worse" than before.

An NFL team official told Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman in May that the league is "f--king terrified" of Trump," but Tisch appears to be an exception.