President Trump turned Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem to bring attention to social injustice, into a litmus test on patriotism and support for the military.
But unlike many of his supporters today, some taking to social media to burn their Nike apparel, Trump has been relatively muted on it.
Why?
Nike’s five-floor Niketown store is located at Trump’s property on 57th Street in New York City.
Nike is the Trump Organization’s biggest tenant in a single space, with Nike leasing the 65,000 square feet of space. Forbes estimates that the propriety is worth $235 million.
So Trump did not immediately jump on the calls to boycott Nike that is spreading across social media today like wildfire.
“As much as I disagree with the Colin Kaepernick endorsement, in another way — I mean, I wouldn’t have done it,” Trump told The Daily Caller. “In another way, it is what this country is all about, that you have certain freedoms to do things that other people think you shouldn’t do, but I personally am on a different side of it.”
Trump sparked a mini culture war last year after he attacks NFL players for protesting police brutality while in uniform, calling the athletes that do kneel for the anthem sons of bitches.