Pence Leaves Colts Game After 49ers Kneel During National Anthem

Vice President Mike Pence left an NFL game Sunday after around 20 players took a knee during the national anthem.

Pence departed the Indianapolis Colts game when the San Francisco 49ers’ players knelt during the playing of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” The vice president, following in the footsteps of President Donald Trump, criticized the players for their disrespect on Twitter.

I left today's Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.

— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) October 8, 2017

…now, more than ever, we should rally around our Flag and everything that unites us…

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— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) October 8, 2017

While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don't think it's too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem

— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) October 8, 2017

He concluded his posts with a simple statement: “I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our flag and our national anthem.”

Since the president suggested in a recent speech that players who fail to stand for the national anthem should be fired, players on teams across the NFL have taken a knee in protest. The issue has become extremely divisive in recent weeks.

We were proud to stand – with all our @Colts – for our soldiers, our flag, and our National Anthem ???????? pic.twitter.com/mkZiKMkPDD

— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) October 8, 2017

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

While some other teams have decided to stand, others—the 49ers, in particular—have continuously knelt at the start of each game. For the vice president, that was utterly unacceptable.