Republicans love to make a big show of their patriotism, but every now and then it seems like their love of country may not be that sincere. For instance, on Sunday a video clip surfaced in which Michael Flynn — national security adviser under Trump for all of 22 days, convicted felon, banned Twitter user, and QAnon fanboy — appeared to forget the words to the Pledge of Allegiance while speaking a crowd of Trump loyalists.
Michael Flynn this afternoon was called up to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at Lin Wood’s rally AND HE FORGOT THE WORDS!!! What kind of “Patriot” General doesn’t know the Pledge! pic.twitter.com/1jNQFxdsL8
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 2, 2021
As per Newsweek, Flynn appeared at a rally thrown by Lin Wood, the Trump lawyer who, shortly before the failed MAGA coup of January 6, called on former vice president Mike Pence to be “executed.” In a packed room in Ladson, South Carolina, Flynn tried to whip the crowd into a patriotic frenzy.
“Listen, I’m going to say a Pledge of Allegiance. You’re going to say it along with me,” he roared, before launching into a big preamble: “I want you to hear, not just listen, every single word of the Pledge of Allegiance. That is our pledge to each other, that is our pledge to this country. It’s a Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. So put your hand over your heart, take your hats off here. Place your hand over your heart.”
And yet after that epic lead-up he couldn’t even get past the first sentence. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,” he said. He then skipped right to the end, blurting out the word “indivisible.” The rest of the crowd, of course, knew the Pledge of Allegiance, and Flynn eventually caught back up with them.
The video led to widespread social media mockery, though many had the same thought: It’s not a surprise that a guy who believes in wacko conspiracy theories, appearing at a rally for a guy who claims that Trump is still president, doesn’t know the words to the nation’s pledge — even though it’s pretty short.
Michael Flynn didn’t forget the words; he knew that he broke his oath to defend the United States Constitution and couldn’t bring himself to say the Pledge of Allegiance. https://t.co/cfV7HKpQ9G
— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) May 2, 2021
Michael Flynn couldn’t remember the words to the Pledge of Allegiance!
In his defense, not many of Putin’s inner circle do…
— Brian O’Sullivan (@osullivanauthor) May 2, 2021
Mike Flynn doesn’t know the words to the pledge of allegiance because he’s been reciting the QAnon pledge for too long.
These asshats wouldn’t know the meaning of a real patriot if it smacked them in the face.pic.twitter.com/8vcF3GeSEa
— Beki
(@Daksthetruth) May 2, 2021
Michael Flynn forgot the words to the Pledge of Allegiance.
“What kind of ‘Patriot’ doesn’t know the Pledge?”
Answer: A Trump / MAGA / Republican / QAnon “Patriot” https://t.co/Crr9fUPf63
— Dean Wallace
(@deanofdublin) May 2, 2021
He’s memorized the Russian pledge of allegiance https://t.co/kDfvTlRECy
— Baligubadle (@Baligubadle1) May 2, 2021
Michael Flynn forgot the words to the Pledge of Allegiance because his only allegiance is to the former guy! DJT, Not the United States! https://t.co/6dumnHCeo7
— Agolf Twitler Slayer (@bblock29) May 2, 2021
Michael Flynn doesn’t know the words to the Pledge Of Allegiance.
That’s ok, Mike. Most terrorists can’t. pic.twitter.com/hAeLLceJjc
— Evan Shapiro (@eshap) May 2, 2021
There were jokes, too.
WHY DID HE TEE HIMSELF UP SO HIGH FOR THIS pic.twitter.com/2OgDr3SlJh
— Daniel Kibblesmith (@kibblesmith) May 2, 2021
‘Oh, you meant THAT pledge of allegiance…’
— NoelCaslerComedy (@CaslerNoel) May 2, 2021
On a related note, just a little reminder that Flynn’s former boss, beloved by the nation’s evangelicals, very clearly doesn’t know anything about the Bible.
(Via Newsweek)