Donald Trump-Colin Kaepernick Row Explained: Trump Reasons Why NFL Star Hasn't Been Signed Yet

President Donald Trump took a swipe at NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick on Monday during a campaign-style rally in Louisville, Kentucky, suggesting that he is the reason the NFL star has not been signed by a team.

Kaepernick, who formerly played for San Francisco 49ers, became a controversial and divisive figure last year after he began kneeling in protest during pre-game national anthems, over what he called “the oppression of black people and people of color.” Kaepernick’s protest was also joined by his teammates and other players from the NFL, besides being emulated by football players at high school and college levels, as well as players in other sports. For the past three weeks, the 29-year-old has been a free agent after opting out of a contract with the 49ers.

Addressing the crowd in Kentucky, Trump said that he read a report that claimed that NFL owners don’t want to pick Kaepernick “because they don’t want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump," according to the Associated Press.

Read: NFL Quarterback To Stand For National Anthem In 2017

“Do you believe that?” Trump asked the crowd and then added: “They (the people of Kentucky) like it when people actually stand for the American flag.”

This is the second instance of Trump referencing Kaepernick’s iconic protest. Earlier, during his campaign run of August last year, reacting to the 49er calling him “openly racist,” Trump said Kaepernick should “find a country that works better for him.”

It was also reported earlier this month by ESPN's Adam Schefter that Kaepernick will stand during the national anthem next season.

"Ultimately, it's to bring awareness and show people what's really going on in this country," Kaepernick said about his protest. "There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust and that people aren't being held accountable for. That's something that needs to change. This country stands for freedom, justice and liberty for all. And it's not happening for all right now."