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.

“If this happens, then America’s not right right now,” Evans said. “I said this a long time ago. When [Donald Trump] ran, I thought it was a joke and the joke continues. I’m not a political person that much, but I got common sense. And I know when something’s not right.”

Evans said he had not informed the team of his protests, adding that he did not want his intentions to be misconstrued.

“I don’t want to, you know, disrespect the veterans or anything,” Evans said. “The men and women who serve this country, I’m forever indebted to them. But the things that’s been going on in America lately, I’m not going to stand for that. When Ashton Kutcher comes out and says we’ve been punked, then I’ll stand again. But I won’t stand anymore.”

Evans added his protest would continue “as long as (Trump is) the president-elect.”