10/9/2017
President Trump wanted to make a point, and he used Vice President Pence to make it. On Sunday, Pence performed a pre-orchestrated publicity stunt which ended up costing tax payers about $250,000.
In the recent flap about NFL players standing during the national anthem, Donald Trump has been very clear where he stands. He believes that kneeling or locking arms in a sign of unity is a disgrace to our flag. Not being shy about making a point, he apparently wanted the Vice President to make one as well.
Following the most recent mass shooting, the Vice President was in Las Vegas to further deny the need for any type of gun control. Pence then planned to take a government plane to Los Angeles California to fund raise for House Republicans who might be in danger of losing their next election because of their support for Trump. However, instead of just heading to California from Las Vegas (about a 20-30 minute flight), Trump and Pence thought it would be a good idea for Pence to take an 8 hour detour and fly all the way back to Indiana to attend Sunday’s NFL game between the Colts and the 49ers.
The stunt was pre-planned. Donald Trump admitted that he had told Pence in advance that if any player took a knee, the Vice President was to leave the game in apparent disgust. Because the 49er’s were the first team to take a knee and to raise the issue, and because players on the 49e’rs have taken a knee in every game so far this year, it was about a 99.9999% chance that the Vice President would be leaving the game after the anthem in apparent disgust. He was not going to watch the game, he knew he would be leaving.
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
Pence later stated “President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.” “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”.
According to most figures, the 8 hour detour on the government plane costs taxpayers about $250,000.
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