WASHINGTON (AP) — The lone African American member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet said Monday he would work with the president on the issue of athletes taking a knee during the national anthem, though Trump has shown no signs of softening, tweeting over the weekend that he would not watch soccer or football if players don’t stand for the national anthem.
When asked on the Hugh Hewitt Show if he might persuade the president not to be upset with players kneeling during the anthem, Carson replied: “Well, I don’t think he has manifested as much animosity in that region lately.
However, they pointed out that the show’s transcript dropped an important word in Carson’s comments — in which the secretary said he would work “with” Trump on the issue, rather than “work” the president.
He retweeted Republican Reps. Jim Jordan or Ohio and Matt Gaetz of Florida taking issue with the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voting to repeal the policy that required players to stand during the national anthem.
Trump has returned to the topic frequently over the years as he considers it politically beneficial, saying at one point that those players who don’t stand for the national anthem should be fired.
