Just hours before the Super Bowl kicks off in Minneapolis, U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a tweet expressing appreciation for the country's armed services, who he says help make days like Super Bowl Sunday happen.
Trump said that "we hold them [servicemembers] in our hearts and thank them for our freedom as we proudly stand for the National Anthem." It's viewed as an attack at NFL players who kneel during the singing of the U.S. national anthem to protest unfair police treatment of minorities. Trump and his administration have been outspoken critics of the practice, claiming that it's disrespectful to servicemembers.
The New England Patriots, who are playing in tonights game, have generally been more reluctant this season to embrace the protest than have the Philadelphia Eagles.