A federal judge presiding over a naturalization ceremony in San Antonio, Texas told the group present Thursday that if they don’t like President-elect Donald Trump, they can “go to another country,” according to KHOU.
Judge John Primomo invoked the election during the ceremony, telling attendees that Trump was going to be their president whether they voted for him or not.
“I can assure you that whether you voted for him or you did not vote for him, if you are a citizen of the United States, he is your president,” Primomo said in a video capture by the station. “He will be your president and if you do not like that, you need to go to another country.”
He also went on to criticize anti-Trump protestors and those who kneel during the National Anthem as a protest, according to the station.
“I detest that, because you can protest things that happen in this country; you have every right to,” Judge Primomo said. “You don’t do that by offending national symbols like the national anthem and the flag of the United States.”
Primomo later told KHOU that he meant his words to be unifying and not political. He said he did not vote for Trump, but wanted to stress respect for the President.
Watch the video below via KHOU:
