Obama Defends Kaepernick’s Protest

President Obama said San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is “exercising his constitutional right” to sit out the U.S. national anthem, but the president acknowledged that the silent protest is a “tough thing” for military service members to accept, the Washington Post reports.

He added: “I don’t doubt his sincerity. I think he cares about some real, legitimate issues that have to be talked about. If nothing else, he’s generated more conversation about issues that have to be talked about.”