Mike Evans on Sunday became the first NFL player to kneel during the United States national anthem in protest at Donald Trump being elected president.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver was believed to have taken to his knee for the same reason that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and many of his peers had done since the pre-season — to raise awareness of the continued racial injustices ethnic minorities face in the US as well as police brutality.

However, Evans said after the 36-10 win over the Chicago Bears that the act was his way of speaking out against Trump becoming president-elect.