Meghan McCain suggests Olympian turning away from flag gives Putin propaganda

Meghan McCain on Tuesday suggested that Olympian Gwen Berry’s protest of the American flag could serve as anti-U.S. propaganda for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Mediaite. 

During an episode of ABC’s “The View,” the panel discussed Berry’s protest of the flag, in which the Olympic hammer thrower turned away from the flag and placed a shirt over her head as the national anthem started to play. McCain agreed with the criticism Berry has received in recent days.

During her remarks, “The View” co-host referenced remarks from Putin blaming President Biden on the recent problems in the U.S. during their summit in Geneva. McCain called this a “national security risk.” 

.@MeghanMcCain went off on Gwen Berry after the athlete turned away from the flag as the national anthem played, with #TheView host saying she “will die on this hill that it is not appropriate or patriotic.”

“It’s not about you, it’s about all of us.” pic.twitter.com/cKFbnlcYvs

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) June 29, 2021

“If anyone just saw Vladimir Putin’s recent speech when he met with President [Joe] Biden, he’s using the propaganda that America is a craphole against us,” McCain said. “We’re having our enemies and propaganda dictators using our own propaganda against us, which in turn, turns into a national security risk.”

McCain also mentioned her late father Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) cellmate in Vietnam getting beaten by prison guards for sewing the American flag onto his prison garb, arguing that Berry is doing a poor job representing her country, according to Mediate.  

“I will die on this hill!” McCain said. “That it is not appropriate or patriotic to go to a foreign country where you’re supposed to be representing America and act like it’s just about you. It’s not about you! It’s about all of us.”

Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R) was also among those publicly criticizing Berry. On Monday he said she should be removed from the U.S. Olympic team.

“We don’t need any more activist athletes,” he said.

Dan Crenshaw calls for Gwen Berry to be removed from the Olympic team because she turned away from the flag pic.twitter.com/c2xWKLXPPJ

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 28, 2021