The kneeling controversy, or “#TakeTheKnee”, where NFL players kneel during the National Anthem to protest police brutality, has been in the headlines for weeks now.. During a football game between the Colts and the 49ers on October 5, Vice President Mike Pence walked out of the game after witnessing members of both football teams kneeling during the National Anthem.
This act has been deemed controversial by several sources, due to the fact that his swift entrance and departure cost $242,000 from taxpayer dollars. His flight from Las Vegas, where he had been attending the memorial for victims of the shooting, to Indianapolis cost $30,000 per hour, totaling $100,000 for travel costs. After spending thirty minutes in Indianapolis, Pence abruptly left, refusing to stay after the National Anthem controversy. Afterwards, Pence flew from Indianapolis to Los Angeles, costing taxpayers $142,000 for the usage of the Air Force military plane.
Pence defended leaving the game in a statement from the White House, saying, “I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem.” However, the price of his actions has been highlighted by the fact that Pence’s spokesperson asked reporters outside Lucas Oil Stadium, the venue, to stay inside their news vans, as “there may be an early departure from the game.”
Excessive taxpayer spending has been a debated issue among government officials. The Trump administration is currently under fire, especially after CNBC reported that Trump claimed that Puerto Rico relief aid “threw our budget a little out of whack.” Adding fuel to the fire, President Trump criticized the Obama administration for similar types of spending. Previously, Steve Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary, cost US taxpayers $800,000 for traveling with military aircraft, reported by Huffington Post. This included flights to New York and Miami. Though Mnuchin did not break any laws, his overtly expensive flights came into light after former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigned over his use of military flights, which added up to over one million. Mnuchin came under scrutiny for his spending, as well as his further request to use a jet that costs $25,000 an hour to fly to his honeymoon vacation.
Many have expressed their distaste for Pence’s actions. According to CNN Pence stated his actions for his departure, claiming that “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.” There has been no mention so far of the Vice President’s flight from the White House, except the Republican National Committee claiming to reimburse portions of the flight.
The kneeling protest began last year, spurred by Colin Kaepernick, then pro quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers. He had originally knelt to protest police brutality towards black men and women, but the reasoning spiraled into dishonoring the anthem itself. In the past month, there has been a surge of NFL support for Kaepernick’s actions.
President Trump has personally condemned the kneeling protest, calling for coaches to remove players who participate in kneeling during the national anthem.
The price of Pence’s journey adds to the numerous debates across the United States. Now, many argue: what is the right amount that a government official can spend before it becomes harmful to the American people?