President Obama says he can understand why San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has decided not to stand for the national anthem.
Kaepernick was booed last week in San Diego when he continued to kneel as The Star-Spangled Banner was played before the 49ers' preseason game at Qualcomm Stadium.
Obama admitted it was a "tough thing" to see Kaepernick's protest but said he understood why the 29-year-old was trying to bring the treatment of minorities across the United States into the sporting spotlight.
He has been supported by team-mate Eric Reid while USA soccer international Megan Rapinoe also knelt during the anthem before a Seattle Reign match on Sunday.
Obama was asked about Kaepernick's protest at a press conference during the G20 summit in China, and he said: "I've got to confess that I haven't been thinking about football while I've been over here and I haven't been following this closely, but my understanding, at least, is that he's exercising his constitutional right to make a statement.
"I think 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 it holds for our men and women in uniform and those who fought for us, that is a tough thing for them to get past, to then hear what his deeper concerns are.
"But I don't doubt his sincerity, based on what I've heard. I think he cares about some real, legitimate issues that have to be talked about.
"And if nothing else, what he's done is he's generated more conversation around some topics that need to be talked about."