Politics

Trump mocked for not fully singing National Anthem

President Trump sang the National Anthem Monday night before the college football championship game — but mouthed only a few of the song’s lyrics, sparking critics on Twitter to accuse him of not knowing the words.

“The president mouthed what appeared to be some of the words of the National Anthem and didn’t mouth others. He seemed more excited to sing along near the end of the song. Pool was fairly close to him. We could not exactly tell what he was saying or singing,” a press pool reporter wrote.

But many critics went further, arguing that video of the president singing showed that he mouthed the wrong words to the song, mocking him for the alleged gaffe after he had spent months lambasting football players who kneel in protest of racism and police brutality.

“As a military veteran who has watched Trump, a coward who never served and received five draft deferments, slam Colin Kaepernick as unpatriotic for peacefully protesting, I am beyond livid that he doesn’t know the words to the National Anthem,” tweeted Charlotte Clymer, a former aide to Hillary Clinton.

“IDEA: Before spending 6 months lecturing football players about respecting the national anthem MAYBE LEARN THE WORDS,” tweeted Judd Legum, editor of the lefty news outlet ThinkProgress.

But supporters praised the president for taking the field, hand on heart.

“Trump being down on the field, walking out with the troops, singing along with the National Anthem with such pride, is the very definition of Pro-America. This is OUR President,” wrote “That Trump Guy.

“I just witnessed one of the most special things I have ever seen in my 56 years. Almost made me cry. Our Wonderful President Trump standing along the Color Guard, hand on his heart, singing our National Anthem at the College Championship game. So unprecedented as far as I know,” tweeted Vaughn Esham.

Earlier Monday, the president repeated his call for the anthem to be respected.

“We want our flag respected, and we want our National Anthem respected also,” Trump said during a speech to a farmers’ convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

“There’s plenty of space for people to express their views and to protest, but we love our flag and we love our anthem, and we want to keep it that way.”

Most of the players from Georgia and Alabama remained in their locker rooms during the anthem — though Alabama star running back Bo Scarbrough was caught on audio yelling “F–k Trump” in the tunnel at the Atlanta stadium before taking the field. He later denied the comment.

Trump has singled out ex-NFL quarterback Kaepernick for launching the trend last year, and called other pro ballers SOBs who should be fired for participating in the silent protests.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

With Post Wires