Colbert: Kneeling ‘has everything to do with race, just like your presidency’

Stephen Colbert on Monday ripped President Trump after his comments attacking NFL players who kneel during the national anthem.

During “The Late Show,” Colbert mocked Trump for saying the issue of kneeling during the national anthem has nothing to do with race.

“Wrong,” Colbert said.

“Kneeling during the national anthem has everything to do with race, just like your presidency.”

Colbert said those who kneel during the national anthem are “protesting racial injustice.”

{mosads}”They’re not protesting the American flag,” he said. “Saying that kneeling is a protest against the flag is like saying Gandhi’s hunger strikes were a protest against snacking.”

Trump last week went after NFL players who refuse to stand during the national anthem, saying that team owners should fire players that kneel. The president continued his attacks this week.

On Monday, he tweeted: “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!” he tweeted.

The president continued Tuesday in a series of tweets that noted NFL ratings, which fell again this week for the games themselves while ratings rose for talk over the controversy during pre-game programs.

Ratings for NFL football are way down except before game starts, when people tune in to see whether or not our country will be disrespected!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017

Players and teams across the country have spoken out against Trump’s comments.

On Sunday, many NFL players knelt or locked arms during the national anthem in their first games since Trump’s comments.

— Joe Concha contributed.