US VP Pence leaves as NFL players kneel during anthem
In this Dec. 18, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and outside linebacker Eli Harold (58) kneel during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. | AP Photo/John Bazemore, File
MANILA, Philippines — NFL players continue to kneel during the national anthem.
And United States Vice President Mike Pence was having none of it.
Pence was in attendance at the Lucas Oil Stadium when the Indianapolis Colts faced the San Francisco 49ers.
But he left as soon as San Francisco players knelt during the national anthem.
He later tweeted that President Donald Trump instructed him to leave should athletes kneel.
"(President Trump) and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem," he tweeted.
Trump later confirmed this and said he is proud of what Pence did.
The idea of kneeling during the national anthem started when then 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt in protest of racial inequality and police violence last season.
He was not re-signed the following season.
Since then, a number of NFL players joined him and president Trump repeatedly told owners to drop players for disrespecting the flag.
Players who protest maintained that they are not disrespecting the flag or the military.
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