Tim Ryan campaign addresses his national anthem debate gaffe: It 'won't happen again'

The 2020 campaign of Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) would like to clarify that he "loves our country" after a Democratic debate slip-up.

Ryan was the only candidate not to place his hand over his heart during the national anthem at the start of Tuesday night's Democratic debate, a moment that generated some attention online even as most figured it was just a mistake. Still, Ryan took some heat on Wednesday's Fox & Friends, while former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer called him out and suggested it was intentional, tweeting, "I guess he's appealing to the Kaepernick wing of the Democratic Party."

The Ryan campaign on Wednesday clarified that he "wasn't protesting and didn't mean to make any statement last night in Detroit," calling it a "moment of absentmindnessness while on a debate state that won't happen again." The campaign also points out that Ryan "was, in fact, singing along," adding, "Congressman Ryan loves our country." This statement came after Ryan previously told ABC News when asked if he has a response to criticism from Fleischer and others, "No, not really."

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The statement concludes by promising Ryan will "continue to honor the flag during the anthem in future events," although with the qualifying requirements soon being raised, he may not have the chance to do so on the debate stage again.