NFL team owners were "a little bit frightened of their players," but President Donald Trump kept pushing on the issue of standing for the national anthem until NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell finally agreed, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday.
"Took Roger, what, two or three weeks of public humiliation to finally get the message," Gingrich told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program. "Trump has this unique ability to understand where the American people are and what the American people value. And, of course, the Washington elites don't get any of that so they are sitting there going 'boy, this is really stupid.'"
On Tuesday, Goodell sent a letter to all 32 NFL teams, saying that he wants players to end their protests and stand during the national anthem, reports ESPN.
Team owners, said Gingrich, "wanted it all to go away," but Trump wouldn't let that happen.
"The result was when the country paid attention, the country said of course you ought to respect the flag," Gingrich told Fox News. "And, you know, I think the most devastating single thing I saw, I think it was on Twitter, was a veteran who had lost one leg, who said this is what taking a knee for your country means. And you looked at that and he said stand up for the flag. I mean, it was just devastating."
Gingrich also discussed the growing call for younger people to take over key Democratic leadership roles, including the one held by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
"Nancy is caught in a time warp," said the former speaker. "She now represents a world that's disappeared, and I do think the country by the way would like to see compromise. I do think the country values the idea of getting together politicians, putting the country above partisanship. But, that has to require listening to each other and finding some common ground."
However, Gingrich said he does not think it's a matter of Pelosi's physical age, but it's more in "her head."
"She is trapped in a world, San Francisco 25 years ago, and then her attitude is 'why aren't you for everything I believe in? Isn't it so obvious to you I'm right?'" said Gingrich. "If she wants to stay as leader, she ought to try to enter the 21st century."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.