New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees put himself at the center of attention this week with a Yahoo interview in which he criticized peaceful protests against racial inequality during performance of the national anthem before NFL games, and he’s devoted a lot of time to walking those comments back and trying to make amends with the teammates, friends, and fans whom he offended.
Brees issued a lengthy apology on Instagram after he was publicly and privately called out by those close to him, including many current and former Saints players. He later talked it out with them during a pre-scheduled team meeting, having found common ground after handling things in-house.
However, the incident caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who disagreed with Brees’ decision to change his take on the subject. Like Brees initially said, Trump views protests during the anthem as a dishonor to the American flag, writing on Twitter:
Brees later responded in another post on Instagram, explaining to the President that they both missed the point of the original protests during the anthem. The people who used that moment to quietly raise awareness of issues close to them weren’t doing so intending to disrespect the American flag or its military. At this point, Brees said, he and members of the white community must listen to and learn from the lived experiences of others:
The President has made a habit of feuding with his political opponents online, so it’s possible this isn’t the last we’ve heard of his thoughts on the Saints quarterback. Keep an eye on this space for further developments.
