McConnell Intensifies Petty Nike Feud, Posts Betsy Ross Flag With July 4 Tweet

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) addresses the Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority Policy Conference at the U.S. Capitol Visitor's Center Auditorium June 27, 2019 in ... WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) addresses the Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority Policy Conference at the U.S. Capitol Visitor's Center Auditorium June 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. Created as a bridge between conservative Tea Party movement and evangelical voters, the Faith and Freedom Coalition was founded by Christian conservative activist Ralph Reed in 2009. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can’t let his beef with a private shoe company go — even on America’s birthday.

In a Fourth of July tweet, the head of the Republican Party tweeted a photo of the Betsy Ross American flag along with his “Happy Fourth of July!” message.

It’s just McConnell’s latest attempt to weigh in on the controversy that’s triggered conservative outrage this week. On Tuesday, McConnell pledged he would “make the first order” if Nike agreed to bring back its shoe design that included the Betsy Ross flag.

Nike opted to pull the sneaker design after former NFL player Colin Kaepernick spoke out about the use of the flag, which is reminiscent of the era of slavery in the U.S. The NAACP also publicly opposed the design, citing that the flag is regularly appropriated by white nationalist groups to protest diversity in America.

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