Report: Trump wanted NFL punished as part of GOP's tax plan

President Donald Trump instructed White House officials to try to punish the NFL for its protesting players as part of the recent GOP tax reform, White House and Capitol Hill aides told The Washington Post's Josh Dawsey and Wesley Lowery.

Some aides reportedly even began researching how to follow through on such an act, though a White House official noted that Trump's ideas never came to fruition and were interpreted "more as venting."

Trump's request to hit the NFL in its wallet came after players continued to kneel despite the president calling for those demonstrating during the national anthem to be "fired" at an Alabama rally.

The NFL recently implemented an anthem policy that requires players and personnel to stand if on the sidelines; however, Trump has continued his attacks on the league, canceling the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles' White House visit due to only a small contingent of team members deciding to make the trip to Washington.