national anthem protests
April Ryan confronted Sarah Huckabee Sanders over Trump's indifference to police violence. Sanders scolded her for interrupting.
Tuesday's White House press briefing had some contentious moments, after President Trump uninvited the Philadelphia Eagles from a Super Bowl victory celebration over some NFL players' decisions to kneel during the national anthem to protest police violence.
Despite the fact that none of the Eagles participated in protests throughout the football season, Trump issued a statement condemning the whole team for "disagreeing with their president." While Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was defending Trump's decision, explaining the importance of respecting military members by saluting the flag, White House correspondent April Ryan cut in to point out the reason for the protests in the first place.
“Is the president aware that this is about police-involved shootings and not about disrespecting the flag?” asked Ryan. Sanders scolded Ryan for "rudely interrupting" and said she'd be "happy to answer if you would stop talking long enough to let me do that."
In the end, Sanders said nothing about the police shootings and disproportionate police force used against minorities that NFL players are protesting. Instead, she told Ryan that Trump was "not going to waver" on his view that everyone should stand for the anthem, no matter what. Watch the contentious exchange below, via CNN. Summer Meza