Donald Trump, lacking the courage to serve his country in uniform or the skill to be the owner of a successful team, displays his warped view of manliness through crude, vulgar and violent appeals. He pathetically hopes to earn the admiration or brotherhood of those whom he admires but cannot match in deed or character. The military should torture suspects. Police should abuse prisoners. And NFL owners should fire peacefully protesting athletes.

The men whose respect he craves reject him time and time again. Defence secretary Jim Mattis tells him we are not going to use torture. The service chiefs reaffirm their belief in non-discrimination after the President finds merit in neo-Nazi protesters. Police chiefs and police unions around the country deplore his incitement to rough up suspects. And on Sunday ... well, on Sunday, the NFL owners and players made up for a host of sins by demonstrating loyalty to one another, support for free expression and revulsion at Trump’s effort to divide America.

The Washington Post reports:

“As President Trump called for NFL owners to suspend or fire players who protested the national anthem, players and coaches answered defiantly Sunday morning, with most members of the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars either standing with their arms locked in solidarity or taking a knee on the field.

“Ravens coach John Harbaugh joined his players, locking arms, and Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, a Pakistani-American billionaire and businessman, joined his players before the game’s kick-off at 9.30am [EST] in London’s Wembley Stadium. Ravens Hall of Famer Ray Lewis also took a knee during the anthem.”

Roger Goodell, not necessarily known for his political deftness, this time understood precisely what was at issue, putting out a scathing statement, “The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture. There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we’ve experienced over the last month.” He continued: “Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities.”

Throughout the day, teams protested. Around the league, fans saw that “players from several teams, including the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, the Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins, took knees during the anthem. With the exception of one player, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t even take the field until the anthem was over”.

Other teams chose to stay in their locker rooms as well. On teams that did come out, some players stood linking arms, some knelt. Regardless of whether a player was standing or not, on the field or not, the message was one of tolerance and respect for one another, even if they did not share a uniform way of expressing themselves. They will not tolerate an effort to shut up one of their own on an issue of conscience.

Past supporters of Trump did not hold back, as The Washington Post reported:

“Even a close friend, Patriots CEO and chairman Robert Kraft, who donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration, issued a sharply worded statement Sunday morning that condemned his comments and supported the right of players to peacefully protest “in a manner that they feel is most impactful”.

Kraft said: “I am deeply disappointed by the tone of the comments made by the President on Friday. I am proud to be associated with so many players who make such tremendous contributions in positively impacting our communities.

“Their efforts, both on and off the field, help bring people together and make our community stronger. There is no greater unifier in this country than sports and, unfortunately, nothing more divisive than politics.

“I think our political leaders could learn a lot from the lessons of teamwork and the importance of working together towards a common goal. Our players are intelligent, thoughtful and care deeply about our community, and I support their right to peacefully affect social change and raise awareness in a manner that they feel is most impactful.”

In the aftermath of public sparring with Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry (“it’s kind of beneath the leader of a country to go that route,” he said of Trump’s racial divisiveness) and Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James (“it’s hit home more for me because he’s now using sports as the platform to try and divide us”), Trump managed to alienate two of the most successful and popular sports leagues, which have tens of millions of fans. By the end of the day, several things were apparent.

First, thick-headed treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, who declared that players should protest only on their own time — actually, their bosses, the NFL owners, don’t agree — reminded us that the Trump team is utterly devoid of any understanding of American values and democratic traditions. Authoritarian bullying will not earn Trump points with sports stars or owners; it should garner wider public disdain. If sports is a metaphor for life, at least life in America, a good deal of America has decided that, in the words of James, the President is a “bum” who disgraces the office. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin maybe more eloquently explained: “I’m not surprised by Trump’s comments. He has shown, since the beginning, his dehumanised nature. To think he would be anything different is to not know the reality of his presidency. He has surrounded himself with like-minded people and has removed anyone who challenges him. He acts like a child craving attention and any attention will do.

“Although these recent comments are not the worst things he’s said or done, I do believe that this will be a unifying moment for the sports world. And with as much influence as athletes have on the younger generation, this can be an opportunity for us to change the narrative of society and point to the President as a poor example of what you can become if you remain close-minded, ignorant and uneducated.

“For all the hate and negativity that has come from Trump’s presidency, I am still hopeful for justice and love to win out.”

Second, anyone who thinks this is just about Trump’s aversion to protests and not about abject racism should wake up. Trump’s press secretary called for African-American ESPN host Jemele Hill to be fired. Trump condemned Colin Kaepernick with vehemence he never expressed for white nationalists and neo-Nazis. Trump went to Alabama to tell an overwhelmingly white audience that the protest by African-American athletes is “a total disrespect of everything that we stand for, OK? Everything that we stand for”. We. Them. You don’t have to be a mind reader to see what is going on. The dog-whistling is now a trumpet blaring to white audiences, seeking to stir up and capitalise on their rage against non-whites, especially non-white foreigners.

Third, some half-hearted Trump whisperers claim he is “just” trying to distract from the possible loss of Luther Strange, the Alabama senator, in a Republican primary run-off or his expected failure, again, on healthcare reform. They would have us believe he is an insincere race-baiter. (He’s not a racist, he just plays one on TV?) Well, from his days condemning the exonerated African-American Central Park Five to his racist criticism of Judge Gonzalo Curiel to his moral equivalency when faced with neo-Nazis, he has consistently attacked, smeared and demonised non-whites.

Fourth, Trump’s pathetic attempt to endear himself to his base by shared white grievance has not succeeded. His standing in poll after poll is atrocious. He has yet to make good on a single significant legislative goal. If the NFL is a harbinger, he will soon unite the country in revulsion towards him. The good news is that business leaders, team owners and athletes, artists, philanthropists and other national figures are speaking out regularly, unwilling to let Trump define the country. As we have recommended, not just condemnation but ostracism would be a fitting response.

• Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for The Washington Post, offering reported opinion from a conservative perspective