Sports | October 10, 2017 12:07 pm

President Trump Calls for Tax Law Changes for NFL in Response to Protests

The president's tweet comes in response to continued league-wide protests during national anthem.

Miami Dolphins' Julius Thomas (89), Michael Thomas (31) and Kenny Stills take a knee as the U.S. national anthem is played before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

By Will Levith

How do you really scare the National Football League? Threaten them where it would hurt the most: their wallet.

At least that’s how President Trump sees it, who today wondered aloud in tweet form “Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country?” He then called for a change to tax laws.

Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017

While it’s unclear what “tax law” Trump is referring to or whom he’s asking to change it, Reuters notes that “the NFL gave up its federal tax-exempt status in 2015 … although U.S. states and localities still offer the multi-billion dollar league tax breaks in order to attract teams and to finance stadiums.”

This is the latest in a number of critical tweets and comments the president has made about the league since last year.