White House

Pat Tillman's widow is breaking her silence -- saying her husband fought and died for American rights such as freedom to protest ... even when you don't agree.

Marie Tillman broke her silence about the issue after Donald Trump retweeted a post that included the ex-NFL star turned solider -- along with the hashtag #StandForOurAnthem.

"As a football player and soldier, Pat inspired countless Americans to unify," Tillman wrote in a statement to CNN.

"Pat’s service, along with that of every man and woman's service, should never be politicized in a way that divides us."

Then she dropped this -- "The very action of self expression and the freedom to speak from one’s heart -- no matter those views -- is what Pat and so many other Americans have given their lives for. Even if they didn’t always agree with those views."

"It is my sincere hope that our leaders both understand and learn from the lessons of Pat's life and death, and also those of so many other brave Americans."

President Trump's under fire from Marc Anthony ... who's begging the commander-in-chief to turn his attention away from NFL player protests -- and toward the crisis in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico.

Marc is pissed off and bluntly called out Trump, saying ..."Mr. President shut the f**k up about NFL. Do something about our people in need in #PuertoRico. We are American citizens too."

The singer's anger stems from the humanitarian crisis in the wake of Hurricane Maria. The island's power grid remains crippled, a massive dam is crumbling, hospitals don't have running water and there's extremely limited communication.

Marc has joined his ex, Jennifer Lopez's efforts to send aid to the island -- but, clearly, he's screaming for POTUS to get on board too.

Donald Trump was defending the honor of the American flag when he called for NFL owners to fire any "son of a bitch" who doesn't stand during the national anthem ... this according to the White House press secretary.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders just fired back at reporters during a White House press briefing -- where she was asked if Trump's 'S.O.B.' comments crossed the line.

"It's always appropriate for the president of this country to promote our flag," Sanders said.

LeBron James says people who voted for Donald Trump made a mistake -- but it's okay, because even LeBron makes mistakes.

The NBA superstar spoke with reporters at Cavs media day and refused to say Trump's name -- or even call him the President. Bron repeatedly referred to him as "that guy."

James accused "that guy" of using sports to try and divide the country -- and he says he'll do everything in his power to fight back.

Then he dropped this ...

"If you voted for him or not, you may have made a mistake, and that's okay."

"If you voted for him, it's okay. I mean I've done things for my kids and realized I shouldn't have given my daughter that many damn Skittles. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. She won't go to sleep now."

Colin Kaepernick doesn't seem to be phased by President Trump calling him a "son of a bitch" -- he surfaced in NYC on Monday on his way to the gym ... and he looks ready to play.

Kaepernick smiled when asked how he felt about the scores of NFL players who took a knee on Sunday following the national anthem protest he started last year -- but the smile faded when he was asked about Trump's newest comments.

The ex-49ers quarterback was decked out in gym gear -- wearing a shirt that says "dope" -- and looked like he's put on some serious muscle mass since last season.

There were questions about his weight and if he's actually training to get back into the league. He definitely looks the part here.

Kaep was with his girlfriend, Nessa -- one of the biggest radio personalities in the country.

Not all NASCAR people are siding with Trump -- with Dale Earnhardt Jr. throwing his support behind NFL protesters ... despite several NASCAR owners bashing them.

After POTUS said NFL owners should fire any "son of a bitch" who takes a knee, two of the most powerful men in NASCAR gave major stamps of approval.

Richard Petty said, "Anybody that don’t stand up for that ought to be out of the country. Period."

Team owner Richard Childress was asked what he would do if any of his staffers protested the anthem -- "Get you a ride on a Greyhound bus when the national anthem is over."

But Earnhardt -- hands down the most popular NASCAR driver of the last 10 years -- sees things differently ... and weighed in Monday morning with a quote from John F. Kennedy.

"All Americans R granted rights 2 peaceful protests," Dale Jr. tweeted.

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

As for Trump, POTUS praised the NASCAR community early Monday morning.

Morgan Freeman's pissed off all of Russia and is now public enemy #1 at the Kremlin ... if you're buying what Russia's state news is selling, anyway.

Freeman is getting blasted by the media over there for starring in a Rob Reiner-produced video that calls out Vladimir Putin for interfering in the U.S. elections, and President Trump for not responding to the cyber attack.

News outlets are now labeling him "Hysterical Freeman" ... bringing in psychiatrists who say he has a "Messianic complex" from playing God and the President. Russian film director Yuri Grymov said, "I think, the grandpa just got drunk" -- and one anchor reportedly dismissed Morgan as an overworked pothead.

Anyway, here's the video that's bumped 'Shawshank Redemption' from Russian cable for good.

Side note: Imagine if our Prez really did rock double earrings.

Gisele had no time for questions about her husband, Tom Brady, possibly being stopped from visiting the White House because of Ivanka Trump ... her mind was worlds away.

Paps got Tom's Brazilian model wife beelining it Tuesday to a car that was on its way to the United Nations Headquarters building in NYC, where she attended a meeting of the Global Pact for the Environment. She's big on protecting Mother Earth.

She was mum on Anthony Scaramucci's strong intimation she blocked Tom from visiting Donald Trump because he might've dated his daughter back in the day ... sources close to Ivanka say she was tight with Tom but they never hooked up. For his part Donald wished back in 2004 the 2 would get together.

Don Lemon says if President Trump wants an apology from ESPN for Jemele Hill's remarks, he should man up and do one thing first ... say sorry to Barack Obama.

What would Trump be apologizing for? He was very critical of Obama during his presidency, including calling BO a racist, and of course questioning whether or not he was born in America.

Don's point seems to be that Trump, while a private citizen, did the exact same thing Hill did, and if her network has to apologize -- like Trump has asked -- then he should step up and do the same.

Kevin Durant says he's 100% behind Jemele Hill "standing up for what she believes in" ... telling TMZ Sports he totally supports the embattled ESPN star.

"I'm behind Jemele -- I support her," Durant told us outside Poppy in L.A.

Donald Trump came at ESPN on Friday for Hill's "white supremacist" tweet -- demanding the network "apologize for untruth" ... this after White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called Hill's comment a "fireable offense."

Of course, KD has his own issues with POTUS -- remember when he told us he "don't f**k with" the Donald? Yeah, not a fan ... but still, having an MVP publicly support Hill is a HUGE deal.

Former Press Secretary Ari Fleischer says his former job is a walk in the park ... which means Sean Spicer, Anthony Scaramucci and Sarah Huckabee Sanders missed the memo.

We got W's former mouthpiece Wednesday leaving Michael's in NYC, and he was all about bipartisan compromise ... especially when it comes to border control.

Al Sharpton says he's got Jemele Hill's back -- and if ESPN fires her over her anti-Trump tweets, he'll lead a boycott against the network.

The Rev. tells TMZ Sports he's furious with the White House and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders for saying Hill's tweets are a "fireable offense."

FYI, Hill strongly tweeted against Trump on Sept. 11 ... calling him a "white supremacist" and "the most ignorant, offensive president of my lifetime."

Sharpton says Hill has every right to express her political views without fear that the government will call for her job.

"Let's not forget, ESPN is regulated by the FCC. The FCC commissioners are appointed by the White House so it's a whole different level of intimidation on media outlets when you have the press secretary [calling for a reporter's job]."

Sharpton says he has a message for Hill -- "Stand strong. If they take you out, many of us in the civil rights community will stand up for you and take ESPN off our service."

Hillary Clinton thinks Donald Trump's Inauguration speech was actually a rallying cry for white nationalists ... and she blurted that out on national television.

HC was being interviewed by CBS Sunday, reflecting on her election loss (again) when she started describing the conundrum of whether she oughta show to Trump's Inauguration -- y'know, 'cause she lost to him ... but is also a former First Lady.

That's when she gets to her "out of body" experience on the platform listening to Trump's first speech as Prez ... which she calls a "cry from the white nationalist gut."

Basically ... she thinks Trump squandered an opportunity to unite the country, and instead played to his base with harsh rhetoric ... and, apparently, white nationalist sentiments.

We'll let Hil (and Trump) speak for themselves.

Monica thinks it's great Barack Obama got his own section of a freeway in the L.A. area -- but says they got the neighborhood wrong when they picked it.

We got the R&B singer at LAX, where she congratulated 44 for getting a section of the 134 Freeway -- between Glendale and Pasadena -- named after him. She had a list of reasons why it's totally deserved.

She also thinks he deserves a different stretch of freeway. As our photog says, what Obama got is "way out in the cuts" ... near Occidental College. Monica and our photog have a more, umm ... urban location in mind.

Yes, Obama is an Occidental alum, but still ... Monica ain't satisfied.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s son has not joined the chorus of Trump haters in the wake of his Dreamers punt.

We got MLK's youngest son, Dexter King, at LAX, assuming he'd rag on the Prez for saying he has "great love" for the Dreamers. Quite the opposite ... he wants to cut Trump a break.

President Trump and his base are full-on racists, but there is a solution ... so says Rage Against the Machine's bassist, Tim Commerford.

We go the rocker Wednesday at LAX and asked a pretty broad question about the most pressing world issue -- he does not mince words.