Donald J. Trump’s campaign is promoting a new fashion accessory for his supporters: an American flag lapel pin featuring the former president’s name in bold gold letters — all in uppercase.
These lapel pins became available on Thursday for a $50 donation to the Trump campaign, adding to the array of products that Trump has sold over the years, including Bibles and Trump sneakers.
The donation page for the pins mentioned that Trump’s political adversaries had labeled him a convicted felon and asked his supporters for continued backing.
This latest merchandise move by Trump is once again pushing the boundaries of flag etiquette and facing criticism from various quarters.
The controversy surrounding Trump and the flag extends beyond the lapel pins. Some individuals who deny the election results have even flown the American flag upside-down as a symbol of distress to protest Trump’s defeat in 2020. An upside-down flag was spotted at the residence of Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., an act attributed to his wife.
Modifications to the flag are prohibited under the U.S. Flag Code, established in the 1920s and adopted as law by Congress in 1942.
Ted Kaye, secretary of the North American Vexillological Association, a group of flag enthusiasts, emphasized that the flag should not be used for advertising or political messaging.
However, Mr. Kaye noted that the Flag Code lacks enforcement provisions and does not specifically address depictions of the American flag.
Critics of Trump, including President Biden’s campaign, argue that he is appropriating the national symbol in ways that were not intended.
According to James Singer, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, Trump is using his campaign to prioritize personal gain over national values.
Steven Cheung, a campaign spokesman for Trump, retaliated against Biden’s campaign, accusing them of disrespecting American values.
Since his rise to the presidency in 2016, Trump has made the flag a central element of his branding, with his supporters incorporating his image and name into American flags at rallies.
During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2020, Trump embraced an American flag on stage, declaring his affection for the flag. Flags have consistently featured prominently in his political events.
On Flag Day, the Biden campaign aired a television ad in battleground states highlighting how some of Trump’s supporters, carrying MAGA flags, were involved in the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
Another group of Trump supporters attempted to replace an American flag with a Trump flag at the Capitol during the certification of Biden’s election victory.
Following the riot, an upside-down flag was displayed outside Justice Alito’s residence, raising concerns about his impartiality in cases related to the election and the Capitol attack.
The use of an inverted flag as a protest symbol has a long history, dating back to the 1600s during naval conflicts.
The Flag Code specifies guidelines for displaying the American flag, emphasizing that it should only be flown upside-down as a signal of distress in extreme situations.
Mr. Kaye noted that the Flag Code does not explicitly address using the flag for political statements, pointing out past instances of the flag being used as a political tool during periods of protest.
He recounted a recent conversation with a neighbor who questioned whether displaying an American flag might be misconstrued as support for Trump. Mr. Kaye suggested that combining the flag with Biden campaign signs would clarify the intended message.
