Earnhardt differs some with Trump

LOUDON, N.H. — President Donald Trump lauded NASCAR on Monday because no drivers, crew or team members protested during the national anthem before a weekend race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“So proud of NASCAR and its supporters and fans. They won’t put up with disrespecting our Country or our Flag — they said it loud and clear!” Trump tweeted Monday.

The comments came one day after dozens of NFL players took a knee or otherwise protested during anthems across the country in the wake of Trump suggesting teams should fire them for the gesture.

But Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s most popular driver, tweeted Monday in support of peaceful protest.

“All Americans R granted rights 2 peaceful protests. Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable - JFK,” he wrote.

RPM team owner Andrew Murstein told ESPN he “wouldn’t fire someone for expressing their feelings.”

“I would sit down with them and say it’s the wrong thing to do that and many people, including myself, view it as an affront to our great country,” he said. “Yes, there are problems here, but they are nothing close to the problems in North Korea and other parts of the world. We must come together as Americans and respect everyone and everything, especially our flag which is still the symbol of the United States, the greatest country in the world.”

A few hours after Trump’s tweet, NASCAR issued a statement noting that respect for the national anthem “has always been a hallmark of our pre-race events.”