"They're ruining the game! That's what they want to do."

"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b**** off the field right now, out, he's fired. He's fired.'" 

"You know, some owner is going to do that. He's going to say, 'That guy that disrespects our flag, he's fired.' And that owner, they don't know it [but] they'll be the most popular person in this country."

"They're ruining the game! That's what they want to do. They want to hit. They want to hit! It is hurting the game."

The above are quotes from U.S. President Donald Trump, a couple of years ago, regarding the controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the playing of the National Anthem at football games. 

Apparently, many people felt the same way as Trump. Within weeks CBS Sports reported on a poll, where 72 percent found Kaepernick's antics to be unpatriotic and media outlets across the country began reporting on the negative effects on NFL viewership.

After just a few short months, NFL owners unanimously approved a new national anthem policy, requiring players to stand if they are on the field during the performance of the song.

The vote was unanimous, but the owner of the San Francisco 49ers — the team Kaepernick played for when he started the protest — abstained from the vote.

That rule has since been shelved by the NFL and now appears to be dead, for all intents and purposes; however, Kaepernick is still not able to play in the NFL. He was banned in 2017, less than three years into a six-year, $126 million contract extension with the 49ers.

When asked by CNBC this week about the pressure China has been putting on the NBA regarding Daryl Morey's recent tweet, Trump replied, with his first public comment on the issue:  "They have to work out their own situation. The NBA's — they know what they're doing,"