White House supports NFL moves on anthem

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders says the administration would support the NFL asking players to stand and defended Vice President Mike Pence's tax-payer funded visit to a Sunday game that he left after the anthem was played in what critics say was a publicity stunt.
The Trump administration would support the NFL asking players to stand for the U.S. national anthem, a White House spokeswoman said.
"We support the national anthem, the flag and the men and women who fought to defend it, and our position hasn't changed," Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on Tuesday (October 10).
The protests in a league where African Americans make up the majority of players have continued through the season, with some players taking a knee when the anthem is played and others standing arm-in-arm in solidarity.
NFL owners are preparing to address the anthem issue at their fall meeting in New York October 17-18, NFL chief spokesman Joe Lockhart told reporters on a conference call on Tuesday.
"We're glad to see the NFL taking positive steps in that direction," Sanders added.
Vice President Mike Pence walked out of a NFL game on Sunday after some players knelt, a move some critics called a publicity stunt. Sanders declined to answer a question about the ramificatons of taxpayer money being spent for his visit to the game, calling it appropriate that Pence was invited and attended the game and important that the country's leaders stand for the flag