Hip-hop artist Jay-Z threw his support behind NFL players kneeling during the national anthem during his performance on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” 
 
 While performing his song “Bam” with Damian Marley, Jay-Z wore a custom jersey featuring the name and number of NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. 
 
 Jay-Z’s symbolic attire comes after President Trump’s repeated criticism of NFL players, including Kaepernick, who don’t stand during the playing of the national anthem. 
 
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 Last weekend Trump launched a series of tweets calling for NFL owners to fire players who take a knee and urging the NFL to implement a rule banning players from kneeling during the anthem, just a few days after he referred to players who don’t stand as “sons of bitches” during a rally in Alabama. 
 
 NFL players and owners responded in force last Sunday, with dozens of players kneeling or linking arms as the anthem played. Three teams remained in the locker room during the anthem, and several NFL owners joined their teams on the field during the demonstrations. 
 
 Trump has previously attacked Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem to protest the treatment of people of color in America, and suggested Kaepernick was still a free agent because he wouldn’t stand for the anthem. 
 
 Trump has continued to call for an end to the protests, tweeting Saturday it was “very important” for NFL players to stand during the anthem. 

 Actor Alec Baldwin resumed his impersonation of President Trump on "Saturday Night Live" this week for the season premiere, appearing in the cold open as a confused Trump responding to the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico. 
 
 The skit mocked a plethora of current events in the White House, from Trump's new "Rocket Man" nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jung Un to his recent feud with the NFL. 
 
 It also showed Trump speaking with San Juan's mayor about recovery efforts in Puerto Rico following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. 
 
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 "I'm begging you, Puerto Rico needs your help," an SNL cast member portraying San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz says to Trump over the phone in the skit. 
 
 "We're going to get more help to you immediately, probably by Tuesday or Wednesday by the latest," Baldwin responds as Trump. "Ma'am I don't know if you know this, but you're in an island in the water. The ocean water, big ocean, with fishies and water and turtles that bite. We want to help you, but we've got to take care of America first." 
 
 After "SNL's" Cruz explains that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, Baldwin aggressively hangs up the phone, saying, "That woman was so nasty." 
 
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 Earlier this week, Trump explained that one of the reasons responding to the disaster in Puerto Rico is more difficult in comparison to the hurricane damage in Florida and Texas is that the territory is on an island. 
 
 The skit also included Aidy Bryant returning to impersonate press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Kate McKinnon impersonating Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsICE chief to protesters: We're not the ones separating families Justice Trump? Betting website gives long-shot odds on Ivanka, Kanye West being Supreme Court pick Protests against Trump immigration policy expected nationwide MORE. 
 
 --Read more from The Hill: 
 
 SNL targets Sarah Huckabee Sanders in first show of new season 
 
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– You wouldn't know it by President Trump's Twitter feed Sunday morning, but Saturday Night Live returned to the airwaves Saturday night, with Alec Baldwin reviving his impression of the commander in chief responding to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, reports the Hill. In speaking with the mayor of San Juan, Baldwin says, "Trust me, I know things are as the locals say 'Despacito,' but we're going to get more help to you immediately, probably either Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest. FEMA takes a few days, unless you join FEMA Prime." Then: "Ma'am I don't know if you know this, but you're in an island in the water. The ocean water, big ocean, with fishies and water and turtles that bite. We want to help you but we've got to take care of America First." Jay-Z was the show's musical guest, notes the Hill, and performed wearing a Colin Kaepernick jersey.