Harris dodges answering whether athletes should stand during national anthem in unearthed interview

Vice President Kamala Harris sidestepped answering straight whether she believes athletes should basal for the nationalist anthem during an unearthed 2016 interview, alternatively delivering a rambling effect that is presently receiving backlash connected societal media up of the wide election. 

While serving arsenic attorney wide of California, Harris joined PBS newsman David Nazar to sermon her Senate tally and run platforms connected issues specified arsenic transgression justness reform, the Black Lives Matter question and the system successful California. During the discussion, Nazar pressed Harris if she believes athletes should basal for the nationalist anthem. 

"Should folks basal for the nationalist anthem?" Nazar asked successful the interview, which was published successful October 2016. 

Harris' effect focused connected Americans' rights protected successful the Constitution, and did not see a nonstop reply connected whether athletes should basal for "The Star-Spangled Banner."

"We are all, and should be, treated arsenic equals. We articulated those principles successful our Constitution. And portion of what we decided is what makes a just and conscionable and noble nine successful a democracy, a existent democracy, is state of religion, freedom, right, of association, state to organize, First Amendment," she responded. 

"So, that is portion of who we are arsenic a country, and I volition support it to the core, which is that we springiness people, definite choices successful this country." 

PRO ATHLETES WHO STOOD FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM AMID FEVER PITCH TO SUPPORT SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES

Vice President Kamala Harris during a run lawsuit astatine the Philip Chosky Theatre successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (Rebecca Droke/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In 2016, San Francisco 49ers backmost Colin Kaepernick became the archetypal NFL subordinate to kneel during the nationalist anthem to protestation constabulary brutality and racism. The signifier of protest, which began successful Harris' backyard of San Francisco, soon dispersed to different sports leagues and athletes. 

Athletes specified arsenic Megan Rapinoe knelt for the anthem up of shot games successful 2016, portion Bruce Maxwell became the archetypal Major League Baseball jock to kneel during the nationalist anthem successful 2017. 

TRUMP TAKES NFL, NBA TO TASK ABOUT KNEELING DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM

The signifier of protestation deed a fever transportation successful 2020 pursuing the decease of George Floyd successful Minneapolis during an enactment with police. Scores of athletes knelt up of games that twelvemonth during the anthem, portion the NBA unveiled a tribunal painted with "Black Lives Matter" amid societal justness protests that year, and immoderate Olympians took a genu during the Tokyo Games. 

San Francisco 49ers, from left, Eli Harold, Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid kneel connected the sideline during the nationalist anthem earlier the Dallas Cowboys crippled astatine Levi's Stadium connected Oct. 2, 2016 successful Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The protests were slammed by conservatives successful the U.S., including erstwhile President Trump, who ripped the athletes for politicizing games. 

TRUMP GIVES TWO-WORD RESPONSE IN REACTION TO NFL PLAYERS KNEELING BEFORE THANKSGIVING DAY GAME

"I deliberation it’s been horrible for basketball. Look astatine the hoops ratings. They’re down to precise debased numbers. People are aggravated astir it. They don’t realize.… They person enough authorities with guys similar me. They don’t request much arsenic they’re driving down… going up for the shot. They don’t request it. There’s a nastiness astir the NBA astir the mode it was done too. So I deliberation the NBA is successful trouble. It’s successful large trouble. Bigger occupation than they understand," Trump said successful 2020. 

Former President Trump listens astatine a municipality hallway run lawsuit astatine Macomb Community College, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, successful Warren, Michigan. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump besides posted to X, past Twitter, that kneeling for the nationalist anthem is "a motion of large disrespect for our Country and our Flag," saying the "game is over" for him erstwhile helium spots an jock kneeling. 

Harris' unearthed interrogation was criticized connected societal media this week, with OutKick laminitis Clay Travis saying Harris delivered a "long jumble of nothingness."

COLIN KAEPERNICK PROTEST FALLOUT SHOWED 'REALLY HOW A LOT OF THE WHITE PEOPLE SEE US,' NFL LEGEND SAYS

Fox News Digital reached retired to the Harris run for comment connected the 2016 interview, but did not instantly person a response. 

Harris defended athletes who knelt during the anthem successful 2017, aft she was elected senator, saying they should not beryllium "threatened oregon bullied" for the protest. 

"Let’s talk the truth that erstwhile Americans request designation that their lives matter, oregon kneel to telephone attraction to injustice, that that is an look of escaped speech, protected by our Constitution, and they should not beryllium threatened oregon bullied," Harris said during an lawsuit successful Atlanta, the Hill reported astatine the time. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"When we sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ we rightly deliberation astir the brave men and women from each backgrounds who proudly support the state of those they whitethorn ne'er conscionable and radical who volition ne'er cognize their names. When we sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ we also think astir those marching successful the streets who request that the ideals of that emblem correspond them too," she added. 

Get the latest updates from the 2024 run trail, exclusive interviews and much astatine our Fox News Digital predetermination hub.