After President's Tirade Against Anthem Protests, Titans Owner Says She's 'Proud To Stand With Our Players'

NASHVILLE, TN — A day after President Donald Trump spent significant time at an Alabama Senate campaign rally railing against protesting athletes, suggesting that those who choose to kneel, sit or raise fists during the playing of the national anthem be fired, Tennessee Titans owner — and Trump campaign donor — Amy Adams Strunk issued a statement of support for players, saying that anyone who disparages them doesn't know the force for good they are in the community.

"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," Trump said to the crowd at a rally for candidate Luther Strange in Huntsville, were he spoke for more than one hour. "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."

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"That owner" is unlikely to be Strunk — who, according to campaign finance records, donated $1,600 to Trump's campaign in July 2016 — who, in a statement issued Saturday afternoon, said Titans players have her full support.

I am proud to stand with our players and support them in their work on and off the football field. I completely agree with Commissioner Goodell that we are better off as a nation when we are unified and pulling together. I have seen that kind of attitude first-hand in Tennessee and across our country in the many benevolent and public-spirited efforts of our NFL players, often without any public recognition.
Our players make public contributions day-in and day-out and when I hear anyone making disparaging remarks about them, I know it has to be the result of not knowing what they bring to our communities or what they have accomplished.”

Her comments echoed that of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who issued a statement earlier Saturday.

The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture," There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we've experienced over the last month. Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities.

Trump responded via Twitter:

Earlier Saturday, after a series of tweets suggesting that athletes are not permitted to "disrespect the flag" if they sign a sports contract, Trump tweeted that the NBA champion Golden State Warriors were disinvited from the White House, pointing his ire particularly at Steph Curry, saying that the star's "hesitation" was the reason for the invitation's withdrawal. Curry had, in fact, already said he would not make the traditional trip to the White House and forward Andre Iguodala insisted the team would follow Curry's lead in the matter, leading to the conclusion the team had already decided not go to the White House before the president withdrew the invitation.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement of his own:

“I was in favor of the team visiting the White House and thought it was a rare opportunity for these players to share their views directly with the president. I am disappointed that that will not happen. More importantly, I am proud of our players taking an active role in their communities and continuing to speak out on critically important issues.”

The Warriors, who are scheduled to play the Washington Wizards at the end of February, issued a statement saying "in lieu of a visit to the White House, we have decided that we'll constructively use our trip to the nation's capital in February to celebrate equality, diversity, and inclusion - the values that we embrace as an organization."

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally for Senate candidate Luther Strange, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, in Huntsville, Ala. Photo by Evan Vucci/Associated Press