Donald Trump Has Wrapped His Political Career in the American Flag
Trump has wrapped his political career in the American flag, making the Stars and Stripes a central visual in his 'Make America Great Again' movement. On Friday, he celebrated July Fourth from the South Lawn of the White House, where he recently installed an 88-foot flagpole. He attended a picnic there with military families and signed his signature tax and spending legislation in front of more than a dozen American flags. He wore his signature uniform: a red tie, white shirt and blue suit, along with a MAGA cap that had an American flag embroidered on the side.
Almost every politician uses the American flag as a backdrop, but no other has deployed the national symbol as their own brand as extensively as the former retail and licensing mogul. His family business sells dozens of 'Trump' branded trinkets with flag imagery, including a $120 rubber beach tote and a $110 knit sweater. His supporters have imposed his face on American flags, which they fly from their vehicles or wave from the crowds at his political rallies. His campaign peddled gold lapel pins with 'TRUMP' emblazoned on the flag, available for a $50 donation.
And only Trump has transformed the meaning of the American flag into one of the most divisive topics in modern discourse.
As flags are raised throughout the country to honor the traditionally unifying anniversary of the country's birthday, Trump's efforts to absorb the American flag into the branding of his Republican Party have left the nation divided over how to celebrate. He calls his supporters 'patriots' and his opponents anti-American, ripping open long-simmering debates over what it means to wave the flag and who gets to define American freedom. He has also spurred efforts among some Democrats and Trump opponents to embrace the flag and Independence Day celebrations – while, among others who do not care for Trump, he has pushed them away from such traditionally patriotic activities.
'It is fitting that the President of the United States loves the Star-Spangled Banner, which represents our nation's brave heroes that have fought and died for our freedom,' said White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers. 'The American flag has always been important to the President's identity – from the day he was born, on Flag Day, it was clear that his DNA is USA.'
This year, some July Fourth barbecues and block parties served as undisguised anti-Trump demonstrations. The Women's March planned 'Free America' rallies throughout the country, where they encouraged organizers to entice people to protest with hot dogs and veggie burgers.
'The dream of American freedom belongs to all of us, and we will not stop in our pursuit of its promise, now or ever,' wrote the Women's March on a website announcing the plans.
Some Democrats in Congress are trying to unite the Democratic Party around the flag at a time when the party is scrambling to find a cohesive way to counter Trump.
About half of Americans have an American flag at home, but a higher share of Republicans report owning flags than Democrats, according to YouGov survey. In the same survey, 89 percent of Republicans said flying the flag was an act of patriotism, compared with only 58 percent of Democrats. Reps. Pat Ryan (D-New York) and Chris Deluzio (D-Pennsylvania) passed out 4-inch-by-6-inch American flags to their colleagues ahead of Flag Day.
'Patriotism does not belong to one party,' an accompanying letter said. 'The flag, and the values it stands for, belong to every single American.'
Deluzio, who served in Iraq in the Navy, said he was motivated to distribute the flags because no one party has a 'monopoly' on American pride. Trump undermines his flag-waving displays by showing 'disdain' for service members and attacking political rivals in the presence of military leaders, Deluzio said in an interview.
'I refuse to take a lecture on patriotism from this guy,' Deluzio said.
After November 2020, as Trump falsely claimed that he had won the election, many of his supporters displayed upside-down American flags as an anti-Biden symbol. Rioters carried such a flag into the U.S. Capitol when they sought to block the certification of the election results on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump's supporters widely shared the upside-down flag again last year, after he was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to an adult-film actress ahead of the 2016 election. The U.S. Flag Code generally prohibits flying the American flag upside down except in a signal of 'dire distress.'
Despite Trump's displays of pride in the American flag, he has frequently flouted the U.S. Flag Code, which dictates how the American flag should be folded, stored and displayed. The law requires that flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days following the death of the president. Trump was furious when he learned that the rule would be in effect during his inauguration festivities in January following the death of former president Jimmy Carter.
'The Democrats are all 'giddy' about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at 'half mast' during my Inauguration,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'They think it's so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don't love our Country, they only think about themselves.'
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) ultimately ordered the flag to be raised to full height during Trump's inauguration and then returned to half-staff the day after.
Trump's famous hug of the flag at CPAC and his history of emblazoning his name over images of the flag have also been criticized as disrespectful to the national symbol.
He has also criticized others for desecrating the flag, calling for criminal penalties against protesters who burn flags despite a 1989 Supreme Court ruling that burning the flag is protected speech under the First Amendment.
DeLuzio spoke to The Washington Post from Congress on Wednesday, as House lawmakers were battling over the future of an immigration and tax package that has deeply divided the parties. But he called on Americans to put those differences aside for July Fourth.
'Go celebrate our Independence Day,' DeLuzio said. 'We need some unifying moments in our country.'
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