WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Nike sent a “terrible message” this week by making former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick one of the faces representing the 30th anniversary of the company’s “Just Do It” campaign. But he also said the company’s ability to make its own business decisions “is what this country is all about.” 
 
 “I think it’s a terrible message. Nike is a tenant of mine. They pay a lot of rent,” Trump said, referring to Niketown New York, which is — for now — located at 6 East 57th Street in New York City. 
 
 The president made the remarks during an exclusive Oval Office interview with The Daily Caller Tuesday afternoon. (RELATED: Trump Says Bob Woodward Has ‘A Lot Of Credibility Problems’) 
 
 Kaepernick kicked off a protest movement among some NFL players during the 2016 pre-season when he began kneeling at games during the national anthem, rather than standing. 
 
 Kaepernick, who now alleges that league owners are colluding to keep him off an NFL roster, explained the rationale behind his protest in August of that year: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” 
 
 President Trump has been staunchly and vocally opposed to players protesting during the anthem, tweeting in September 2017, for instance, “The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem. NFL must respect this!” 
 
 On Monday afternoon, Kaepernick tweeted an image from Nike’s campaign, with the words, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” written across the athlete’s face. 
 
 Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/SRWkMIDdaO — Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 3, 2018 
 
 Trump added Tuesday that “there’s no reason” for the famous sports apparel company to tap Kaepernick for the campaign. 
 
 “But I think it’s a terrible message that they’re sending and the purpose of them doing it, maybe there’s a reason for them doing it,” Trump mused, “but I think as far as sending a message, I think it’s a terrible message and a message that shouldn’t be sent. There’s no reason for it.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Trump Says He Won’t Be Watching Neil Armstrong Movie After American Flag Snub) 
 
 Despite that, Trump acknowledged that it’s Nike’s right to make its own business decisions. 
 
 “As much as I disagree with the Colin Kaepernick endorsement, in another way — I mean, I wouldn’t have done it,” Trump said. 
 
 “In another way, it is what this country is all about, that you have certain freedoms to do things that other people think you shouldn’t do, but I personally am on a different side of it.” 
 
 Follow Vince and Saagar on Twitter ||||| FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, in Seattle. Kaepernick has... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, in Seattle. Kaepernick has a new deal with Nike, even though the NFL does not want him. Kaepernick’s attorney, Mark Geragos, made... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, in Seattle. Kaepernick has a new deal with Nike, even though the NFL does not want him. Kaepernick’s attorney, Mark Geragos, made... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, in Seattle. Kaepernick has... (Associated Press) 
 
 NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on Colin Kaepernick's Nike deal. (all times local): 
 
 5:25 p.m. 
 
 President Donald Trump says Nike is sending a "terrible message" by making Colin Kaepernick part of a new ad campaign tied to the 30th anniversary of its "Just Do It" series. 
 
 Trump told The Daily Caller that "there's no reason for it" but he also feels Nike's ability to make its own business decisions "is what this country is all about." 
 
 Trump has been a frequent critic of protesting NFL players. He has loudly urged the league to suspend or fire players who demonstrate during the anthem. 
 
 The Republican president is also a key figure in Kaepernick's grievance case against the league. Some NFL owners have said Trump made clear to them his feelings about demonstrations during the anthem and his intention to continue to raise the issue. 
 
 Kaepernick is arguing the owners colluded to keep him off any roster. 
 
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 4:45 p.m. 
 
 An NFL executive says the social justice issues raised by Colin Kaepernick and other football players "deserve our attention and action." 
 
 Jocelyn Moore is the league's executive vice president of communications and public affairs. She said Tuesday that the NFL embraces the role of players and others in the game to promote "meaningful, positive change in our communities." 
 
 The statement is the league's first since Nike and the former 49ers quarterback announced he would be part of a new ad campaign tied to the 30th anniversary of the famed "Just Do It" series. Kaepernick tweeted an image Monday that said: "Believe in something. even if it means sacrificing everything." 
 
 Moore's statement came with a detailed breakdown of things players and league executives have done together to learn about and address social issues, including community meetings, lobbying and financially supporting local programs. 
 
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 12:45 p.m. 
 
 Country singer John Rich of Big & Rich is criticizing Nike for hiring former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for a new ad campaign and posted a picture of cut up Nike socks. 
 
 Rich tweeted on Monday night that a member of his crew cut the trademark swoosh off his socks and that he was also planning to burn them. Kaepernick began a wave of protests by NFL players two seasons ago, kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. 
 
 In a series of tweets that continued Tuesday, Rich, who was also on "The Celebrity Apprentice," said he supported the right to protest, but that Nike lost his support when they endorsed Kaepernick. 
 
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 9:35 a.m. 
 
 Nike's stock is falling in early trading on Tuesday following an announcement that former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has a new deal with the athletic clothing and footwear maker. 
 
 Kaepernick's attorney, Mark Geragos, made the announcement on Twitter, calling the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback an "All American Icon." 
 
 Kaepernick already had a deal with Nike that was set to expire, but it was renegotiated into a multiyear deal to make him one of the faces of Nike's 30th anniversary "Just Do It" campaign, according to a person familiar with the contract. 
 
 The NFL and Nike extended their partnership in March to run through 2028. Nike provides all NFL teams with game-day uniforms and sideline apparel that bears the swoosh logo. 
 
 Shares of Nike Inc. dropped 2 percent. 
 
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 More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
– The backlash over Colin Kaepernick's appearance in Nike's latest ad campaign continues: Now President Trump has weighed in. "I think it’s a terrible message," Trump tells the Daily Caller. "I think it’s a terrible message that they’re sending and the purpose of them doing it, maybe there’s a reason for them doing it, but I think as far as sending a message, I think it’s a terrible message and a message that shouldn’t be sent. There’s no reason for it." The ad features Kaepernick, who started the controversial NFL anthem protests and who is now accusing NFL owners of colluding to keep him off any team's roster, overlaid with the message, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." Trump conceded, though, "As much as I disagree with the Colin Kaepernick endorsement, in another way—I mean, I wouldn’t have done it. In another way, [but] it is what this country is all about, that you have certain freedoms to do things that other people think you shouldn’t do, but I personally am on a different side of it." Trump also noted "Nike is a tenant of mine. They pay a lot of rent," referring to Niketown New York at 6 East 57th Street in New York City. Meanwhile, the AP reports that in the league's first statement since Nike announced the ad campaign, an NFL exec says the social justice issues raised by Kaepernick and other players "deserve our attention and action" and that the league supports players promoting "meaningful, positive change in our communities."