On Friday night the president used Twitter to call for players who failed to stand up for the national anthem to be struck off by the NFL.
But in a statement put out by owner Shahid Khan, he labelled Trump’s tweets as “divisive and contentious.”
Around 27 players of Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars knelt for their clash at Wembley Stadium and Khan, who also owns Championship football club Fulham, defended his side’s actions.
Khan wrote: “It was a privilege to stand on the sidelines with the Jacksonville Jaguars today for the playing of the U.S. national anthem at Wembley Stadium.
“I met with our team captains prior to the game to express my support for them, all NFL players and the league following the divisive and contentious remarks made by President Trump, and was honoured to be arm in arm with them, their team-mates and our coaches during our anthem.
“Our team and the National Football League reflects our nation, with diversity coming in any forms – race, faith, our views and our goals.
“We have a lot of work to do, and we can do it, but the comments by the president make it harder.
“That’s why it was important for us, and personally for me, to show the world that even if we may differ at times, we can and should be united in the effort to become better as people and a nation.”
