On Friday, ABC’s Good Morning America was the only network morning show to devote air time to former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s frivolous attempt to subpoena President Trump to testify in his lawsuit against the NFL. The broadcast treated the publicity stunt as serious news, with co-host Michael Strahan breathlessly proclaiming a “legal face-off shaping up” between the two men.
“An incredible development this morning. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is taking his fight to the White House, hoping to put President Donald Trump under oath in his case against the NFL,” correspondent Ryan Smith declared. The reporter made the left-wing athlete’s supposed legal case:
ABC News has confirmed that the former San Francisco 49er quarterback’s legal team is expected to ask for a subpoena, if the president won’t testify voluntarily in the case, to hopefully help prove their allegations that the league and team owners colluded to keep Kaepernick off an NFL roster after he began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016. And that President Trump’s comments about the controversy kept him sidelined.
Strahan observed: “So this is something that just keeps on going.” Smith agreed: “It really does.” Though he lamented: “And you know what? There could be an extra hurdle because he’s got to get it cleared through the NFL arbitrator before he can actually ask for that subpoena, so we’ll see where that goes. Extra hurdle for him.” Strahan added: “A lot of layers to go before we get there.”
Back in April, the hosts of GMA actually pleaded for an NFL team to sign Kaepernick for next season.
Here is a full transcript of the June 8 segment:
7:09 AM ET
MICHAEL STRAHAN: Now to the legal face-off shaping up here at home between President Trump and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick’s legal team is expected to try to subpoena the president and ABC’s Ryan Smith is here with the latest. Good morning, Ryan.
RYAN SMITH: Good morning, Michael. An incredible development this morning. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is taking his fight to the White House, hoping to put President Donald Trump under oath in his case against the NFL. ABC News has confirmed that the former San Francisco 49er quarterback’s legal team is expected to ask for a subpoena, if the president won’t testify voluntarily in the case, to hopefully help prove their allegations that the league and team owners colluded to keep Kaepernick off an NFL roster after he began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016. And that President Trump’s comments about the controversy kept him sidelined.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Kaepernick & Trump’s Legal Face-Off; Ex-QB’s Lawyers Expected to Subpoena President]
Now, President Trump has called out Kaepernick and the NFL multiple times over the anthem controversy on Twitter and at rallies. But Kaepernick’s attorney has declined to comment on the decision to subpoena the president and a spokesman for the NFL tells ABC News, quote, “We do not have a comment as we continue to abide by the confidentiality provision of the grievance process.” Michael?
STRAHAN: So this is something that just keeps on going.
SMITH: It really does. And you know what? There could be an extra hurdle because he’s got to get it cleared through the NFL arbitrator before he can actually ask for that subpoena, so we’ll see where that goes. Extra hurdle for him.
STRAHAN: A lot of layers to go before we get there.
SMITH: Yup.
STRAHAN: Alright, thank you so much, Ryan.
SMITH: Sure thing.
