President Trump Says Vice President Mike Pence Getting ‘Great Praise’ for NFL Walkout

As the discussion continues about what Vice President Mike Pence did at the Colts-49ers game last weekend, President Donald Trump is praising his Vice President for walking out on the game. Pence left after 23 players protested during the national anthem.

On Monday morning, the president tweeted that the VP is receiving “great praise” for his action:

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

Apparently, the “long-planned” trip the president was alluding to was that Pence was reportedly planning to attend the game for some time because the Colts were set to retire Peyton Manning’s jersey.

Whatever the plans were or were not, Pence arrived at the game in time for the national anthem and stood with his hand over his heart as the song played. But because players on the field protested during the song, Pence launched a protest of his own by leaving the game at the conclusion of the anthem.

Pence tweeted about the incident on Sunday saying that he doesn’t think it is too much to ask for NFL players to stand during the anthem and added that he supports our soldiers.

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 (@VP) October 8, 2017

I stand with @POTUS Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/B0zP5M41MQ

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

While supporters of the president and vice president have praised the walkout, a growing number of members of the liberal sports media have criticized the move.

To name just a few members of the sports media who attacked Pence, Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wetzel attacked the vice president saying his walkout was “cheap” and “grandstanding.” USA Today columnist Nancy Armour called Pence’s actions a “mockery” of the national anthem. Fox Sports 1’s Shannon Sharpe was disappointed that Pence can no longer be considered the “sane one in the White House.” Also, SB Nation’s Ryan Van Bibber claimed Pence was trying to “frighten” the NFL out of “exercising their First Amendment rights.”

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.