Prior to the 2019 NFL draft, Nick Bosa deleted tweets that were critical of Colin Kaepernick, Beyonce and the movie “Black Panther”, and supportive of President Donald Trump because he “might end up in San Francisco.” That’s exactly what wound up happening on Thursday, when Bosa was taken second overall by the San Francisco 49ers. That means he will be living in one of the more liberal areas of the country. When asked about the past social media posts during his introductory news conference on Friday, Bosa apologized for tweeting in the summer of 2016 that Kaepernick was a “clown.” “Me as a young kid, thought something in my head and decided to tweet it out,” Bosa said. “Bad decision. I respect what he’s done. If it empowers anybody, then he’s done a good thing. I apologize for it.” Nick Bosa on old social media posts criticizing Colin Kaepernick. #49ers pic.twitter.com/k5cOGSs69Y — Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) April 26, 2019 Kaepernick, who in 2016 began kneeling during the national anthem to protest treatment of minorities, hasn’t been on an NFL team since parting with the 49ers following that season. Bosa added that he hopes to grow as a person, and that being in San Francisco will help him do so. Asked about his social media history, Nick Bosa said he’s eager to grow as a person. “I don’t think there’s any city that can help you grow like this one,” he says of San Francisco. — Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) April 26, 2019 He appeared to take a remorseful tone toward his past social media activity throughout the news conference. Nick Bosa: “I definitely made some insensitive decisions throughout my life. And I’m just excited to be here with a clean slate. I’m sorry if I hurt anybody. I definitely didn’t intend for that to be the case.” #49ers — Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) April 26, 2019 Among the decisions Bosa made was “liking” an Instagram post by a friend in 2014 that included racist and homophobic hashtags. He claimed on Thursday that he did not see the hashtags. Story continues 49ers still took him Nevertheless, regardless of his past history, the 49ers could not pass on Bosa, arguably the top prospect in the draft. And while a number of fans might not agree with his political views, the team is banking on his production on the field winning them over and that he will live up to his words. Nick Bosa on his calm demeanor: "I'm definitely monotone and quiet, but when I get out on the field I'll take some of that aggression out." #49ers — Niners Nation (@NinersNation) April 26, 2019 Bosa’s selection and the backlash surrounding it has set off political debates, with conservative pundits such as Tomi Lahren and Britt McHenry chiming in. It is a tricky situation for the 21-year-old, but at least he has the presence of mind to be forthright about his past behavior and make a good first impression on his new team and fan base. San Francisco 49ers first round pick Nick Bosa apologized for past social media comments critical of Colin Kaepernick during his introductory press conference on Friday. (Wade Payne/AP Images for SiriusXM) More from Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Acknowledging the irony that he will begin his NFL career with the same team that used to employ the quarterback he once called "a clown" on Twitter, new San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa expressed remorse for that post about Colin Kaepernick on Friday afternoon. Bosa called Kaepernick a clown on Twitter in August of 2016, a tweet that was deleted in the run-up to Thursday's draft as part of a scrubbing of potentially controversial posts from his social media. In his introductory news conference with the Bay Area media on Friday, Bosa said that the tweet wasn't meant to be a statement on Kaepernick's social justice efforts and apologized. "It wasn't directed towards (Kaepernick's stance)," Bosa said. "It's not like I'm saying his stance and what he was doing, that's not what I was calling or talking about at all. It was just a specific thing that happened and me as a young kid a thought popping in my head and boom, decided to tweet it out. Bad decision. I respect what he's done. If it empowers anybody then he's doing a good thing. So, I apologize for that." Bosa's approach to social media came under scrutiny in the past few months for tweets like the one aimed at Kaepernick and others that garnered attention for his conservative-leaning political views and support of President Donald Trump. Much like other prospects, Bosa said his agent had his social media accounts scrubbed of any content that could be deemed controversial as the draft drew near. In a recent interview with ESPN, he said he "had to" because "there is a chance I might end up in San Francisco." That proved prescient on Thursday night when the Niners used the No. 2 overall pick on Bosa. Soon after, Bosa said he "loves" the Bay Area and referred to his past Twitter remarks as "insensitive." On Friday, Bosa expounded on his social media history and said he views living in the Bay Area as an opportunity for personal growth. "I definitely made some insensitive decisions throughout my life and I'm just excited to be here with a clean slate," Bosa said. "I'm sorry if I hurt anybody. I definitely didn't intend for that to be the case but I think me being here is even better for me as a person because I don't think there's any city that you could really be in that would help you grow as much as this one will. "I'm going to be surrounded by people, all different kinds, so I'm going to grow as a person and I'm going to be on my own. College, you have kind of like that support system around you. Now I'm here, I'm going to be on my own, I'm going to grow up, I'm going to learn a lot of new things." While Bosa has not yet had the chance to meet his new teammates, he will soon as the Niners are scheduled to begin their rookie minicamp next Friday. He said he doesn't anticipate having to explain himself to his teammates when the time comes. "I think once I get in and I meet the guys and they learn who I am, I don't think there's going to need any explaining," Bosa said. "I think they're going to see who I am as a person and that will be enough." As they do with all of their potential draft picks, the 49ers said they thoroughly vetted Bosa before drafting him, including his use of social media. They had lunch with Bosa in Columbus, Ohio, after his pro day, hosted him on one of their 30 allotted pre-draft visits and also spent time with him at the scouting combine. In addition, general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan said their staff did extensive work interviewing those who know Bosa best. They came away with little question about how Bosa would fit in their locker room. "We did a lot of talking to coaches, we did a lot of talking to Nick's teammates," Lynch said. "And what they'll tell you is he's one of the most beloved players that's ever been through there. To the rest of his teammates, to his coaches and all that. And that spoke volumes to us." As for his future social media use, Bosa said he intends to pick and choose his spots before pressing the send button. "I've learned a lot the past couple of months," Bosa said. "I'm definitely going to think a lot more before I send something out." Lynch also said he was happy with how Bosa answered questions about his past in his first 49ers news conference. "I was real proud of him," Lynch said. "I thought he handled it very well. I think he faced what he knew would be a tough room and I thought he was very genuine, honest, took accountability for some of the things that maybe he wasn't the most proud and did so by being himself. That's what we thought he'd do and we're proud of him for that."<doc-sep>CEO of ADL: Seeing a 'blitzkrieg of anti-Jewish' acts across US Dana Bash: This is so telling about where the Republican party is NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 24: Trump Tower stands on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on August 24, 2018 in New York City. Following new allegations over hush money that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen paid to an adult-film actress, the Manhattan district attorneyÕs office in New York City may seek criminal charges against the Trump Organization in the coming days. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Why GOP is standing in the way of Capitol riot investigation WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 08: US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R-VA) remarks on the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the US Capitol November 8, 2006 in Washington, DC. Warner said he supports President George W. Bush's nomination of former CIA Director Robert Gates for Secretary of Defense. Warner said he anticipates Gates' confirmation before the end of the year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), joined by Senate Assistant Minority Leader John Thune (R-SD) (L) and Senate Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), speaks following a Senate Republican Policy luncheon at the Russell Senate Office Building on May 18, 2021 in Washington, DC. Hear what Matt Gaetz said about Paul Ryan before his speech Former GOP senator: If McConnell said this, 'it's shameful' 'Some people have no shame': Biden calls out GOP lawmakers with list (CNN) — President Donald Trump tweeted his support for new NFL player Nick Bosa on Saturday, who had previously come under fire for controversial tweets, including calling former quarterback Colin Kaepernick a “clown.” “Congratulations to Nick Bosa on being picked number two in the NFL Draft. You will be a great player for years to come, maybe one of the best. Big Talent! San Francisco will embrace you but most importantly, always stay true to yourself. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump tweeted. Trump’s tweet came after the San Francisco 49ers selected Bosa in the NFL draft on Thursday night. Bosa, a defensive end from Ohio State, had previously taken heat for some old political tweets, including tweets supporting Trump and a tweet where he called Colin Kaepernick, a former 49er, a clown. Bosa apologized for the remark, according to an NFL.com article. “I respect what he’s done,” Bosa said at a press conference after his selection. “If it empowers anybody, then he’s doing a good thing. I apologize for that.” Kaepernick started the movement of NFL players kneeling for the National Anthem to protest police brutality and racism. Trump railed against Kaepernick and other protesting players and called on the NFL to take punitive measures against them. Kaepernick later filed suit against the NFL, accusing teams of colluding to keep him from playing, and settled earlier this year, according to his attorney. Bosa has since deleted the tweets, which ESPN said included the criticism of Kaepernick, as well as Beyoncé and the movie “Black Panther.” When asked in an ESPN interview why he deleted the posts, Bosa said, “I had to.” “There is a chance I might end up in San Francisco,” Bosa said. CNN’s Jason Hoffman and Jim Acosta contributed to this report.<doc-sep>
Nick Bosa, the San Francisco 49ers' top draft pick, has apologized for a controversial tweet about Colin Kaepernick. But President Donald Trump told the defensive end on Saturday he should "always stay true to yourself." Trump, never shy to wade into the NFL and any controversy involving Kaepernick, gave the words of advice in a tweet. "Congratulations to Nick Bosa on being picked number two in the NFL Draft," Trump tweeted. "You will be a great player for years to come, maybe one of the best. Big Talent! San Francisco will embrace you but most importantly, always stay true to yourself. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Bosa, the NFL Draft's No. 2 overall pick from Ohio State, met San Francisco media for the first time Friday during an introductory press conference. He apologized when asked about past tweets he made that some have called insensitive. In one, Bosa called Kaepernick, a former 49ers quarterback who started a movement to kneel during the national anthem, a "clown." "I definitely made some insensitive decisions throughout my life," Bosa said. "I'm just excited to be here with a clean slate. I'm sorry if I hurt anybody. I definitely didn't intend for that to be the case. "But I think me being here is even better for me as a person because I don't think there's any city that will help you grow as much as this one will. I'm going to be surrounded with people, all different kinds. I'm going to grow as a person." One view:Nick Bosa must prove he's learned from Colin Kaepernick remark, Twitter comments Video:What Nick Bosa brings to the San Francisco 49ers Kaepernick, who no longer plays in the football league, has become a regular target of Trump. His kneeling during the national anthem to protest a series of police shootings of unarmed black men spawned a movement among many African-American football players and a backlash among some fans. In the weeks leading up to the draft, Bosa — whom most analysts considered the top defensive player of the draft — had scrubbed the Kaepernick tweet from his Twitter account, along with others, including one that praised Trump. The move was in anticipation that he might be going to San Francisco, Kaepernick's former team and a city known for its liberal politics. “I had to,” Bosa said of the decision to scrub the posts in an interview with ESPN. “There is a chance I might end up in San Francisco.” Among the posts he deleted: one praising Trump in February 2018, after Trump he wished former President Ronald Reagan a happy birthday. Bosa retweeted Trump’s post with the message “Goats,” a reference to the acronym for "greatest of all time." In other tweets, Bosa called Beyonce's music "trash" and said Black Panther is the worst Marvel movie. Bosa also "liked" multiple Instagram posts that featured the N-word and a homophobic slur. In February, Kaepernick reached a settlement with the NFL on a collusion grievance, in which he claimed the league’s ownership willingly kept him unemployed for his political activism. Bosa said the “clown” tweet was not directed at Kaepernick’s decision to raise awareness about racial inequality. “No, it wasn’t directed towards that,” Bosa said. “It’s not like I’m saying his stance and what he was doing. That’s not what I was calling or talking about at all. It’s just me — a specific thing that happened — and, me as a young kid [with] a thought popping into my head and, boom, decided to tweet it out. Bad decision. "I mean, I respect what he’s done. If it empowers anybody, then he’s doing a good thing, so I apologize for that.” Bosa, who left Ohio State after his junior season, is the younger brother of star Los Angeles Charges defensive end Joey Bosa and the son of former NFL player John Bosa, also a defensive end.