In a pre-Super Bowl interview, President Donald Trump claimed that many NFL players have personally thanked him for passing a major criminal justice reform bill.

Trump, who had previously criticized the NFL for being "soft," also said that players had shown more respect for the flag since the bill was passed. "They haven't been kneeling and they have been respecting the flag, and their ratings have been terrific ever since," he told CBS News' Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan.

A History of Clashes with NFL Protests

The president has had a complicated relationship with the NFL, especially regarding player protests. In 2016, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. The movement spread across the league, drawing both praise and criticism.

Trump seized on the controversy in 2017, famously suggesting at a rally in Alabama that NFL owners should fire players who kneeled: "Get that son of a b---- off the field right now. Out!" His comments further fueled the debate, with some team owners supporting the protests while others sought to enforce new rules.

Would Trump Let Barron Play Football?

While Trump praised the NFL as a "great product," he admitted he wouldn’t encourage his youngest son, Barron, to play football due to safety concerns.

"It's a very tough question," Trump said. "If he wanted to? Yes. Would I steer him that way? No, I wouldn’t."

The president expressed concerns over the sport’s physical dangers, particularly head injuries. "I thought the equipment would get better, and it has," he said. "The helmets have gotten far better, but it hasn't solved the problem."

Trump noted that even some NFL players have publicly said they wouldn’t want their own children playing the game, calling it a "really tough sport."

Football, Politics, and Public Perception

Trump’s comments highlight his ongoing influence over the intersection of sports and politics. While taking credit for improving NFL relations, he remains a polarizing figure within the league. His opposition to player protests won him support from many conservatives, but his remarks about the dangers of football could raise eyebrows among his typically pro-sports base.

As the debate over player safety, activism, and the role of politics in sports continues, one thing is clear—Trump still knows how to keep the conversation centered on him.

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