VIDEO: What Was Donald Trump Doing During the Super Bowl National Anthem?
The playing of the National Anthem before any NFL game has become a hot-button topic since the start of Donald Trump's presidency. He has openly spoken out against players who took a knee or did anything other than stand with their hand over their heart during the Anthem. He may have to add himself to that list after he was filmed gesturing and not paying too much attention during the Super Bowl National Anthem.
Donald Trump, who cares deeply about the national anthem, is caught goofing off in a video by a "real estate agent for a Russian-American firm who frequents Mar-a-Lago," where Trump was watching the Super Bowl with paying customers pic.twitter.com/eaTvUVUFSg
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) February 3, 2020
Trump clearly had no idea he was being filmed, so perhaps it's unfair to judge as he wasn't necessarily expected to set an example.
Trump singled out Colin Kaepernick and NFL owners in particular, almost single-handedly changing their policy on such things. The pressure applied by the White House was immense.
Now, is it possible his view has changed?
NEW: As others stood at attention for the national anthem, President Donald Trump was fidgeting, pointing, and pretending to conduct a band https://t.co/1HWmFow1jX
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) February 3, 2020
That seems unlikely.
This is a debatable case of hypocrisy and one that will be controversial to some, especially those directly impacted by the President's adamant viewpoint about the importance of displays of patriotism. Eventually, however, it will likely fade away in the constant political news cycle during an election year.