Last updated on July 18th, 2023 at 11:24 am
After Vice President Mike Pence got up and left the Indianapolis Colts game after players kneeled during the national anthem, Trump immediately made Pence look like his stooge and took credit for the VP’s actions.
Pence issued a statement about why he left the Colts game, “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. 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. 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. I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem.”
Within 45 minutes of Pence’s statement being issued, Trump was trying to take the credit:
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
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
Instead of worrying about any of the country’s real problems, Trump called Pence into the Oval and told him to leave any sporting events where player kneeled for the national anthem, and Pence feeling jealous of Joe Biden for being taken seriously, accepted the mission.
This is all a giant distraction. The more Trump fails, the harder he digs for shiny objects to take attention away from the fact that his approval rating is 32% and he is failing as a president.
It won’t work. Nobody knew that Mike Pence was at a football game, and nobody cared that he left. People care about jobs, whether or not there is going to be a war with North Korea, saving their healthcare, and the fact that Donald Trump keeps embarrassing their country.
Trump can have the credit for Pence leaving as long as he also takes credit for being the worst president in history.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
