Trump conducts air orchestra during national anthem at Mar-a-Lago Super Bowl event, points at random people
After Jay-Z and Beyonce found themselves at the receiving end of a massive social media backlash for sitting through the national anthem being sung by Demi Lovato this year at Super Bowl LIV party, President Donald Trump is currently evoking similar sentiments after a video of him wildly flailing his hands during the rendition of 'Star-Spangled Banner' emerged.
The video, obtained by TMZ, and taken by one of the attendees at Trump's annual Super Bowl viewing party at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, February 2, shows the POTUS standing up along with the others in the room when the national anthem was being sung before the game, but instead of placing his hand on his heart - as is the tradition - the president opted for first swinging his hands as if he was conducting an imaginary orchestra and then proceeded to point at random people.
The brief video, posted on Instagram, also showed Trump greeting guests, adjusting his chair, and straightening his suit jacket during the national anthem as his wife, Melania, and his son, Barron, stood in attention, with their hands resting over their hearts.
The video was posted by a real estate agent for a Russian-American firm, who frequently visits Mar-a-Lago and other Trump properties and events.
Trump's non-traditional behavior was especially startling since he has always been an advocate for honoring the national anthem as well as the American flag in the past, often chastising NFL players for taking the knee before the game in protest.
"...NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S" Trump tweeted in one of the many angry tweets against the organization.
Also, in a 2018 interview with 'Fox and Friends,' he added: “You have to stand, proudly, for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing. You shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country."