Trump slams Roger Goodell over players' national anthem protests: 'Tell them to stand!'

President Donald Trump continued his Saturday Twitter tirade into the evening, going after National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell over players' national anthem protests.

"Roger Goodell of NFL just put out a statement trying to justify the total disrespect certain players show to our country.Tell them to stand!" Trump tweeted.

Goodell had issued his statement Saturday morning condemning comments Trump had made earlier regarding the league and the players' protests. Goodell had said Trump's remarks were "divisive" and showed "an unfortunate lack of respect" for the NFL.

"The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture," Goodell said. "There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we've experienced over the last month."

Trump had made those initial comments at an Alabama rally Friday evening for Republican Senate candidate Luther Strange. He suggested that players who kneel or sit for the national anthem - as a growing number of NFL players including former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick have done - should be fired.

"Get that son of a b---- off the field right now, out. He's fired. He's fired!" Trump said.

Goodell was far from the only NFL figure to chime in - a growing number of current and former players have taken to twitter to condemn Trump's remarks.

On Saturday evening, Trump also continued to rage against Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who said on Friday he would vote against the latest GOP healthcare bill.

"Democrats are laughingly saying that McCain had a 'moment of courage.' Tell that to the people of Arizona who were deceived. 116% increase!" Trump tweeted.

Bob Bryan contributed reporting.