After Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, a major shift in the nation’s political and social landscape began to take shape. Under his leadership, the focus on traditional values such as patriotism, national pride, and unity grew stronger, while the trend toward “wokeness” and progressive social movements faced increasing opposition. One of the first targets of this new ideological shift was NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who found himself under fire for his past support of players kneeling during the national anthem.
Trump, known for his unwavering stance on supporting American values, made it clear early on that his administration would prioritize patriotism above all else. His decision to take a hard stand against what he referred to as “wokeness” — a term used to describe a heightened awareness of social injustices and an eagerness to correct them — became a defining feature of his leadership. In this environment, Goodell’s support for players who chose to kneel during the anthem as a protest against racial inequality was seen as incompatible with the values that Trump was pushing for.
The controversy surrounding anthem kneeling had been a divisive issue for years. When former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first took a knee in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial injustice, it sparked a nationwide debate. While many saw the gesture as a powerful form of peaceful protest, others, including President Trump, viewed it as disrespectful to the flag and to American service members who fought for the country’s freedoms. Trump’s stance was clear: respect for the anthem and the flag was non-negotiable.
Goodell, who was the commissioner of the NFL during the height of the anthem protest controversy, attempted to balance the league’s support for player activism with the desire to maintain its large, diverse fanbase. In 2017, Goodell publicly stated that players should stand for the anthem, but he also voiced his support for their right to protest in other ways. He attempted to straddle the line between respecting the players’ freedom of expression and keeping the league aligned with patriotic ideals.
However, this approach did not sit well with Trump or many of his supporters. As Trump settled into his presidency, the debate over kneeling became more than just a sports issue — it became a cultural one. To Trump and his allies, supporting the protest during the anthem was seen as a betrayal of the American ideals that they held dear. When Trump took office, his administration made it clear that it would no longer tolerate any form of disrespect toward the national anthem or flag.
This led to the ultimate clash between the new administration and Goodell. Following Trump’s election, the pressure on the NFL intensified, and the commissioner found himself facing backlash not just from the public but from the highest levels of government. Trump, in a series of statements, made it clear that he would only support organizations and leaders who aligned with his vision of patriotism — a vision that did not include the endorsement of players kneeling during the anthem.
In a bold move, Trump and his allies called for Goodell to step down as commissioner of the NFL, accusing him of “choosing wokeness over patriotism.” According to sources within the Trump administration, the president’s team felt that Goodell had failed to take a strong enough stance on the anthem protests, allowing the league to become embroiled in a controversy that divided the country.
Goodell’s refusal to fully condemn the protests and his attempts to allow players to continue kneeling were seen as a sign of weakness by Trump and his supporters. To them, this was not merely a disagreement over social issues but a fundamental clash of values. They argued that by supporting the protests, Goodell had turned his back on the nation’s veterans and the millions of Americans who viewed the national anthem as a sacred symbol of national unity and pride.
In response to this mounting pressure, Trump declared that under his leadership, only those who prioritized patriotism — those who respected the anthem, the flag, and the American military — would receive his support. “We will only support those who choose patriotism instead of wokeness,” he said in a statement issued by the White House. This marked a turning point in the political discourse of the nation, as it became increasingly clear that the debate over kneeling during the anthem was no longer just about sports; it was now part of a larger cultural war between the forces of traditionalism and progressivism.
Goodell’s position grew increasingly untenable as Trump’s administration made it clear that any further support for players kneeling would lead to serious consequences. The NFL, under the pressure of the new leadership, found itself at a crossroads. Could it continue to champion player activism in the face of growing political opposition? Or would it buckle under the weight of national scrutiny and follow the path laid out by the new administration?
While the future of the NFL and its stance on player protests remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the tension between patriotism and wokeness will continue to be a defining issue in the years to come. As President Trump solidifies his vision for America, it is evident that those who choose to align themselves with the ideals of patriotism over wokeness will be the ones who hold the key to future success in the nation’s political and social arenas.
Note: This is SATIRE, It’s Not TRUE.
