Summary
Pence Stormed Out Of Colts-49ers Football Game At Lucas Oil After 12 Members Of The 49ers Knelt During The National Anthem. According to NBC News, “Pence, a former governor of Indiana, flew to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis so he could watch a ceremony honoring Indianapolis Colts legend Peyton Manning. But he left the arena after about 12 members of the San Francisco 49ers knelt on one knee as the anthem played.” [NBC News, 10/8/17]
Pence: “President Trump And I Will Not Dignify Any Event That Disrespects Our Soldiers, Our Flag, Or Our National Anthem.” According to NBC News, “’ 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.’” [NBC News, 10/8/17]
Officials Involved In Discussions Said Pence Planned To Walk Out Of NFL Game. According to NBC News, “Vice President Mike Pence's decision to walk out of a National Football League game on Sunday when some players knelt during the National Anthem was planned ahead of time, a senior Pence official said Sunday night. […] The official, who asked not be named, told reporters Sunday night that Pence was "hopeful" that all of the players would stand. While all of the Colts stood for the anthem, ‘several 49ers did not,’ the official said. ‘As he had discussed with the president, when several 49ers players disrespected the flag and the Nation Anthem, the vice president decided to leave the game.’” [NBC News, 10/8/17]
Trump Tweeted He Asked Pence To Leave The Stadium If Players Knelt For The Anthem. According to tweet, "I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen." [Twitter, 10/8/17]
The Taxpayer Costs Associated With Attending The Football Game Totaled $325,000. According to The Huffington Post, “But this is hardly the extent of the bill. As The Washington Post reported in the days after the game, Air Force Two costs approximately $43,000 an hour to operate, which the Post estimated meant a total bill of $250,000 for the flight alone. That’s to say nothing of the cost of local law enforcement, an extra ambulance and extra trauma teams at the local hospitals, with many of these supernumeraries making overtime for Sunday work. None of those expenses was included in the Secret Service’s cost breakdown. All told, it cost $325,000 at the very least for the vice president not to watch a football game. According to the newly released — and heavily redacted — documents, the hotel rooms for Pence’s security team totaled $64,637.88, split between nine different properties, with the heftiest bill of $25,151 at the Marriott Indianapolis Downtown. A heavily redacted document titled “LRC Air/Rail Detail Report by Project Code” with a “report period” of Oct. 7 through Oct. 9 has an amount at the bottom of $8,877.91, presumably for certain travel expenses. Temporary walkways deployed in downtown Indianapolis add another $2,368.” [Huffington Post, 10/6/18]