'The View' Host Meghan McCain Defends Criticism of National Anthem Protests After Audience Silenced Her

05/25/2018 01:56 pm EDT

The View host Meghan McCain is defending her criticism of the NFL National Anthem protests after the show's audience silenced her during a debate.

In a new tweet, McCain said that she never goes "on tv and do or say anything because it's easy — I say it because it's what I believe in."

"I ardently believe in standing for our flag, and I am not scared of an audience in front of me or behind the camera," she added. "I would be scared if I were a phony, betraying my values."

McCain's defense of her position comes after The View co-hosts were holding a discussion on the hot topic of the NFL's newly imposed fines for kneeling during the National Anthem and McCain was the only one to come out in support of the move.

"I disagree with everyone on this table," McCain said. "I would never be okay with somebody not saluting the flag. By the way, 72 percent of Americans, according to Reuters, said that they thought [Colin] Kaepernick's behavior was unpatriotic."

The new guidelines were detailed on Wednesday, in a statement from Commissioner Roger Goodell.

"This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem," Goodell said in the statement. "Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room until after the anthem has been performed."

"It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of N.F.L. players were unpatriotic," Goodell added. "This is not and was never the case."

NFL fans can read the new policy information below:

• All team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.
• The Game Operations Manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the Anthem.
• Personnel who choose not to stand for the Anthem may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the Anthem has been performed.
• A club will be fined by the League if its personnel are on the field and do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.
• Each club may develop its own work rules, consistent with the above principles, regarding its personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.
• The Commissioner will impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.

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