Indianapolis
Veep protest: Acting on President Trump’s instructions, Vice President Mike Pence walked out of an NFL football game in his home state of Indiana this week after nearly two dozen visiting San Francisco 49ers players took a knee during the national anthem. “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,” Pence said in a statement released minutes after leaving Lucas Oil Stadium. Democrats criticized the vice president’s actions as a publicity stunt, pointing out that 49ers players have knelt during every game this season and that Pence had flown in from Las Vegas and left immediately for Los Angeles, at an estimated cost to taxpayers of $250,000. During a meeting next week, NFL owners will consider changing league rules to make it mandatory that players stand for the national anthem.