With him in the stadium was wife Karen. In honor of Manning, she wore a No. 18 jersey as "The Star Spangled Banner" began.

The Pences stood, hands over hearts. A dozen San Francisco 49ers took a knee. When the national anthem ended, Pence walked out. His limousine took him back to the airport to fly to LA.

"A stunt! That plane trip cost taxpayers $250,000," wailed a media that was rarely critical of Michelle Obama's million-dollar junkets with Sasha and Malia.

The president took credit for Pence's walkout, tweeting, "I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled."

Pence's statement: "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."