Approximately 90 percent of Puerto Rico is still without power and the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history occurred last week, but the Trump administration remains fixated on NFL players who kneel during the National Anthem. This afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence left a game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers after some players chose to take a knee.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Pence claimed that he didn't want to "dignify" the event.
"I left today's Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem," he wrote. "At a time when so many Americans are inspiring our nation with their courage, resolve, and resilience, now, more than ever, we should rally around our Flag and everything that unites us."
I stand with @POTUS Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/B0zP5M41MQ
— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017
Trump quickly took to Twitter to state that he had told Pence to leave the game if any players knelt during the National Anthem. "I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen," Trump wrote.
I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017
According to The New York Times, the vice president flew from the west coast to Indianapolis, where the Colts were playing a team that's known for its participation in the NFL protest movement against racial injustice. The outlet reports that Pence didn't take a pool reporter into the stadium and a member of his staff said the vice president might be leaving early.
And just days after Trump told Puerto Rico that it had "thrown our budget a little out of whack," people were quick to criticise the expense of Pence's trip: He flew from Las Vegas to Indianapolis, then immediately looped back to the west coast for a trip to Los Angeles.
After all the scandals involving unnecessarily expensive travel by cabinet secretaries, how much taxpayer money was wasted on this stunt? https://t.co/R4SFCTCMUJ
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) October 8, 2017
A C32 (AF2) costs $42,936/hour. Pence flew 2.5 hours from Vegas to Indianapolis and then flew back to LA 📈📈
— Kevin Liptak (@Kevinliptakcnn) October 8, 2017
Others pointed out that, if Pence had stayed in Indianapolis for the duration of the game, he wouldn't have arrived in Los Angeles on time for a 6:30 p.m. fundraiser — so it definitely appears that he showed up to the game solely so he could leave before it even began.
Mike Hateful Pence says he left the NFL game in protest?
— Thinker (@areta) October 8, 2017
Not so fast.
He had to board Air Force Two for a fundraiser in los Angeles at 6:30. pic.twitter.com/1ufgXkedn9
It takes 4 hours to fly from Indianapolis to California. Pence had a 6:30 fundraiser in CA. Pence wasn’t staying for the game anyway.
— Hesiod Theogeny (@Hesiod2k11) October 8, 2017
Both NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy and Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano declined to comment on Pence's actions.
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