Sports: Fox News anchor on Trump's NFL war: 'This is the red meat of all red meat' for his base

Shepard Smith said Trump wants to turn the act of kneeling during the national anthem to protest of police violence and racism into a symbol of anti-patriotism.

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith commented on President Donald Trump digging himself further into a crusade against acts of protest in the NFL on Monday.

Smith said Trump is trying to reshape the demonstration some athletes have participated in — kneeling during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racism — as disrespect for the US, its troops, and its flag.

"It's very clear that for his base, this is the red meat of all red meat, because they're able to reframe this," Smith said. "They're able to say, 'oh, they're attacking the national anthem. They're attacking the troops, they're attacking the flag' — none of which they're doing. They're not doing any of that," he said.

"They're upset about racial injustice in the country, and they're upset about the things the president has said, and yet he's able to turn it around for his base."

Smith continued: "Isn't this all a play to his base and could it all possibly be so that they don't notice there is no healthcare and North Korea is the biggest mess since the Cold War?"

Watch Smith's comments below:

CNN host Don Lemon had similar words on the controversy in his opening monologue, Monday night: "Taking a knee is a constitutionally protected expression. It falls within [National Football] League rules — period. If anyone actually believes this is about the flag, then you must believe that Rosa Parks' protest was about a bus. Think about that."

Watch Lemon's monologue below:

Trump turned his attention toward the kneeling demonstration on Friday while delivering remarks during a political rally in support of Sen. Luther Strange of Alabama, who faces a primary runoff vote on Tuesday. Trump carried on about the protests through the weekend and all day Monday.

Shepard Smith said Trump wants to turn the act of kneeling during the national anthem to protest of police violence and racism into a symbol of anti-patriotism. Read Full Story