Jerry Jones says Monday's team trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture was not a P.R. stunt to ingratiate him with black fans ... it was the players who pushed for the visit.
TMZ Sports spoke with the Dallas Cowboys owner outside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. -- where JJ was flanked by a team of armed guards -- and asked about criticism he's been receiving online .
Here's the breakdown ... after the team announced the trip, there was an immediate backlash from people who called it a "PR gesture.