INDIANAPOLIS -- Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen left the Indianapolis Colts game immediately following the National Anthem after the 49ers took a knee.
"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," Pence tweeted after he left.
The White House announced Friday that Pence and his wife, Karen, would be attending the game where Peyton Manning's jersey would be retired at halftime. Manning will also be inducted into the Ring of Honor.
Before the game started, Pence tweeted that he was "looking forward to cheering for our Colts and the great career of No. 18 Peyton Manning."
Looking forward to cheering for our @Colts & honoring the great career of #18 Peyton Manning at @LucasOilStadium today. Go Colts! pic.twitter.com/C3aCYUNpqG
— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017
The Colts and 49ers kicked off at 1 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium.
"We were proud to stand - with all our @Colts - for our soldiers, our flag, and our National Anthem," Pence said in a tweet after leaving.
We were proud to stand - with all our @Colts - for our soldiers, our flag, and our National Anthem ?? pic.twitter.com/mkZiKMkPDD
— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017
The vice president and his wife left immediately following the anthem. It is unclear how many 49ers players knelt during the National Anthem before the game.
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 Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017
President Trump tweeted later that he had asked Pence to leave the stadium if any players knelt "disrespecting our country."
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
The next day, he tweeted that Pence's trip was "long planned."
The trip by @VP Pence was long planned. He is receiving great praise for leaving game after the players showed such disrespect for country!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2017
The White House released the following statement from Pence after he left the 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.
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