Obama backs Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest and says he is 'exercising his constitutional right'

President Obama appeared to back NFL star Colin Kaepernick’s silent national anthem protest on Monday as he told a G20 press conference he understands the NFL star’s motivation. 

 While speaking after the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, the president said that the 49ers quarterback is 'exercising his constitutional right' by not standing during the national anthem for his team's preseason games in protest against racial injustice in the country.

Kaepernick has come under fire from some people offended by his decision not to stand during the national anthem before San Francisco's games. 

Obama said that since he's been in China, he hasn't been paying attention to football or following the issue closely.  

'My understanding is that he's exercising his constitutional right to make a statement,' Obama said in response to what the NFL player is doing.

'There's a long history of sports figures doing so, I think there are a lot of ways you can do it.

'As a general matter, when it comes to the flag and the national anthem and the meaning that that holds for the men and women in uniform and those who've fought for us, that is a tough thing for them to get past to then hear what his deeper concerns are. 

The president added that he doesn't doubt Kapernick's sincerity.  

'I think he cares about some real legitimate issues that have to be talked about,' Obama said. 

'He's generated more conversation around some topics that have to be talked about.