Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback known for his activism, recently made headlines with his comments about former President Donald Trump. Kaepernick, who famously protested against police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, has often been at the center of national conversations about race and justice in America. Speaking on The Wall Street Journal's podcast 'The Future of Everything,' Kaepernick suggested that Trump targeted him and used his presidential influence to minimize his career aspirations. This came after Trump publicly criticized Kaepernick’s protest, implying that NFL teams avoided signing him to avoid backlash from the government.

This narrative took shape during Trump’s 2017 Louisville rally, where he suggested that fear of his tweets might deter NFL owners from signing Kaepernick. Trump further aggravated the situation at another rally, infamously calling for NFL owners to fire players who demonstrated such protests. Although Kaepernick was no longer in the NFL at the time, his actions spurred other athletes to follow suit, demonstrating solidarity with his cause. When reflecting on these events now, Kaepernick sees the significance of a sitting president targeting an individual, indicating a misuse of power to undermine his pursuits.

Beyond these incidents, Kaepernick remains vocal about social justice issues, linking his protest to broader themes of racial justice, especially in the wake of events like the George Floyd protests in 2020. Kaepernick questions why individuals should face threats or discrimination due to race, religion, or socio-economic status. Despite being released from the NFL in 2016 and never signed by another team, he continues to stay prepared for a return, maintaining rigorous daily training routines.

Kaepernick also resolved a 2019 legal grievance with the NFL, which claimed team owners colluded to keep him out of the league due to his activism. In a surprising twist during the 2020 summer, Trump, under stipulations, called for NFL teams to consider signing Kaepernick if he possessed the necessary skills. Today, Kaepernick, at 36, balances his football readiness with being the CEO of Lumi Story AI while continuing to advocate for the causes he deeply supports. His ongoing commitment symbolizes a blend of athletic prowess and enduring activism in the fight for equality.