Donald Trump says that Nike, the US sportswear giant, has sent out a “terrible message” by using Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, as the face of its new “Just Do It” advertising campaign.
The US president has been a vocal critic of Kaepernick, accusing the now unemployed American footballer and other NFL players of disrespecting the flag when kneeling during The Star-Spangled Banner.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
He tweeted in September last year: “The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem. NFL must respect this!”
Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan is celebrating its 30th anniversary and Kaepernick features in one advert with the caption: “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.”
Speaking to The Daily Caller, Trump said: “I think it’s a terrible message. Nike is a tenant of mine. They pay a lot of rent.
“I think it’s a... message that shouldn’t be sent. There’s no reason for it.”
But the president did concede that Nike has the freedom to make its own business decisions. He said: “As much as I disagree with the Colin Kaepernick endorsement... it is what this country is all about, that you have certain freedoms to do things that other people think you shouldn’t do, but I personally am on a different side of it.”
Since the launch of the campaign, critics of the sportswear brand have started burning and destroying trainers and other items made by Nike.
-
Nigel Farage: was he a teenage racist?Talking Point Farage’s denials have been ‘slippery’, but should claims from Reform leader’s schooldays be on the news agenda?
-
Pushing for peace: is Trump appeasing Moscow?In Depth European leaders succeeded in bringing themselves in from the cold and softening Moscow’s terms, but Kyiv still faces an unenviable choice
-
Sudoku medium: November 29, 2025The daily medium sudoku puzzle from The Week
-
Will 2026 be the Trump World Cup?In the Spotlight US president already using the world’s most popular football tournament to score political points
-
Trump orders NFL team to change name, or elseSpeed Read The president wants the Washington Commanders to change its name back to the 'Redskins'
-
World Cup 2026: uncertainty reigns with one year to goIn the Spotlight US-hosted Fifa tournament has to navigate Trump's travel bans, logistical headaches and an exhausting expanded format
-
Why is the NFL considering banning the 'tush push' play?Today's Big Question The play is widely used by the Philadelphia Eagles, to other teams' chagrin
-
Canada beats US in charged 4 Nations hockey finalSpeed Read 'You can't take our country — and you can't take our game,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted after the game
-
Eagles trounce Chiefs in Super Bowl LIXspeed read The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22
-
After Tua injury, can NFL make progress on concussions?Today's Big Question Dolphins QB faces calls to retire
-
Cop benched after NFL star handcuffed in traffic stopSpeed Read A Miami-Dade police officer detained Dolphins star Tyreek Hill before the game
