“My stance is very simple: It’s freedom of speech,” Trump said in an interview with a Nexstar television reporter at the White House when asked his personal stance on the flag in society.

“You do what you do. It’s freedom of speech,” the president continued. “NASCAR can do whatever they want, and they’ve chosen to go a certain way, other people choose to go a different route.”

Trump added that he didn’t think his tweets taking a stronger stance against NASCAR’s decision were “critical” of the organization.

“I was just talking about the fact that NASCAR chose to go a certain way and that’s going to be up to them. That is up to them,” he said, adding that he’s friendly with representatives and drivers from the racing league. “But I view it as freedom of speech.”