INDIANAPOLIS -- Vice President Mike Pence made big headlines Sunday when he and his wife left the Indianapolis Colts game after the National Anthem because several 49ers players took a knee - but it's the photo he tweeted before the game started that's drawing some extra criticism.
Just over two hours before the Colts were set to take on the 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pence tweeted out a photo of him and his wife, Karen, decked out in Colts gear with the caption: "Looking forward to cheering for our @Colts & honoring the great career of #18 Peyton Manning @LucasOilStadium today. Go Colts!"
Looking forward to cheering for our @Colts & honoring the great career of #18 Peyton Manning at @LucasOilStadium today. Go Colts! pic.twitter.com/C3aCYUNpqG
— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017
It's likely no one would have questioned the photo based on Karen Pence's attire - she was wearing a jersey on Sunday, just with Peyton's No. 18 instead of No. 50 - but Pence wasn't even wearing a Colts hat, let alone any other memorabilia. Instead, he was decked out in a suit and tie, like he was preparing to go to an important meeting or a dinner.
RELATED | Vice President Pence leaves Colts game after 49ers kneel during National Anthem
Below is a photo that was taken by the White House Press Corp. during the National Anthem. See the difference from the one above? 
In case you were wondering, some internet sleuths did a bit of digging and found the original photo - it was taken in November 2014 when then-governor Pence and his wife attended the Colts game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cheering on our @colts w/@FirstLadyIN as they kick off the 2nd half! Go #Colts, beat Jaguars! #JAXvsIND pic.twitter.com/V42n392s1O
— Governor Mike Pence (@GovPenceIN) November 23, 2014
President Trump later tweeted that he had asked the vice president to leave the game if any players knelt during the National Anthem.
I stand with @POTUS Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/B0zP5M41MQ
— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017
Pence was also scheduled to be at a private reception in California at 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening.
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