Pat Tillman’s Wife Responds To Trump’s Tweet

Pat Tillman’s wife does not want her husband’s memory to be used divisively by the president.

President Donald Trump retweeted one his follower’s messages Sunday about Pat Tillman, an NFL player who enlisted in the army and was killed. Tillman’s wife was not pleased.

“As a football player and soldier, Pat inspired countless Americans to unify,” Marie Tillman wrote in a statement to CNN Monday. “It is my hope that his memory should always remind people that we must come together. Pat’s service, along with that of every man and woman's service, should never be politicized in a way that divides us. We are too great of a country for that.”

Trump has been blasting NFL players in tweets for kneeling during the national anthem since Friday. He’s received criticism from all parts of the NFL, from players to owners.

Trump retweeted a user called jayMAGA45.

“NFLplayer PatTillman joined U.S. Army in 2002. He was killed in action 2004. He fought 4our [sic] country/freedom. #StandForOurAnthem #BoycottNFL,” read the tweet with a photo of Tillman.

The president began his crusade against NFL players who don’t kneel during the anthem last week while stumping for Alabama Republican Sen. Luther Strange. Trump has called for these players to be fired and for fans to boycott the NFL. Dozens of players kneeled in protest during the anthem Sunday and Monday after Trump’s tweets. The week before it had been only a handful of players.

Marie Tillman said that the players had a right to express themselves.

“The very action of self expression and the freedom to speak from one’s heart — no matter those views — is what Pat and so many other Americans have given their lives for,” said Marie Tillman. “Even if they didn’t always agree with those views. It is my sincere hope that our leaders both understand and learn from the lessons of Pat's life and death, and also those of so many other brave Americans.”

Pat Tillman was drafted in the 1998 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He left the team in 2002 to enlist in the army following the September 11th attacks. He served in Afghanistan and Iraq and was killed by friendly fire in 2004. The Department of Defense was accused at the time of delaying that news because of the bad publicity it would cause.

“Those that serve fight for the American ideals of freedom, justice and democracy. They and their families know the cost of that fight. I know the very personal costs in a way I feel acutely every day,” said Marie Tillman.

Kneeling during the national anthem as a protest gained notoriety in the NFL last year when San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick began doing it. Kaepernick kneeled to protest the mistreatment of black Americans, specifically as targets of police brutality.