Social Media Erupts as US Flag Seen on the Ground Behind Trump at White House

[riversedge]

Source: yahoo.com


Tom Durante Mon, November 17, 2025 at 11:11 AM CST


(Screenshot/Jose Luis Magana/AP photo)

It’s a scar-spangled banner for President Donald Trump.

As the president returned from Palm Beach on Monday night, some social media users were quick to point out that as he walked, an American flag could be seen on the ground behind him, a clear violation of the U.S. Flag code.

The code states the following: “The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.”


It was a surprising sight for the Trump White House, especially given Trump’s advocacy for Old Glory.

In 2017, he attacked NFL players who knelt for the playing of the national anthem, saying, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he’s fired. He’s fired.'”......................










Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/social-media-erupts-us-flag-171145369.html

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I wonder--or I assume Trumps new flag poles are not doing their job!


@WJDupont
Seeing the American flag lying on the White House lawn as President Trump returns is just absolutely f’ing insane… 🤯

Link to tweet

?s=20

[duhneece]

1. I don't think it's insane. It's a perfect symbol of Trump's respect for the US

It’s perfect in its symbolism.

[fujiyamasan]

3. This image captures his entire presidency

Slumped over old man, with the our flag on the ground.

[DSandra]

12. Putin is pleased

Trump surpassed his wildest expectations.

[PatSeg]

23. It could go down in history

as a symbol of when Trump's presidency imploded. I think we'll see that image many times in the future.

[Trueblue1968]

31. Oh just put him in a submersable and send him to an ocean jail.

[LiberalArkie]

39. It really indicates the type of people he has employed. The reason that everything has to be purged.

It should have happened after Bush was president and especially when Biden came in. The right has too many people that are not in DC for service to the country, only themselves.

[twodogsbarking]

2. Biden left it there. djt

[DeeDeeNY]

33. Exactly!

[Paladin]

43. If Biden appeared in a picture with a flag in that condition...

...the trump hordes wouldn't shut up about it for months. The rightwing national media would see to that. Nothing but crickets chirping in the background, since trump is involved---the usual double standard...

[twodogsbarking]

44. The media has guzzled down the Trump Kool Aid, now wait to see what happens.

[IronLionZion]

4. Migrant beef cattle snuck across the border and did this

[sop]

5. Trump should hang another painting in the Oval Office depicting him slouching past the desecrated flag.

He can put it up right next to his raised-fist-after-being-"shot"-in-the-ear masterpiece.

[B.See]

35. precisely. file under

'magic bullet.'

[D. Spaulding]

6. The damage control they're trying to spin now, is that

the flag was being lowered into a special container due to high winds. I've looked at different photos so far, and it doesn't appear to me that's the case. And there's no one around the flag pole; are they saying it's automated and the WH can't even spare an official detail to lower it properly? I've raised and lowered flags on military bases in an official capacity many times in my military career, and I'm highly suspicious of their excuse. I think someone fucked up somehow.

[orleans]

30. there is some guy (white shirt, black coat) between the flagpole and the tree and it looks like there is someone else

bent over between the flag and the pole.

(they're still assholes and they probably did fuck up. the flag was probably on the ground for several hours before anyone noticed)

[riversedge]

7. Newsweek:

US Flag Lying on Ground at White House Raises Questions
https://www.newsweek.com/american-flag-floor-white-house-donald-trump-11057234

Nov 17, 2025 at 05:02 AM EST


.............Newsweek has contacted the White House outside of normal business hours via email for comment


Why It Matters

President Donald Trump installed two large flagpoles on the White House grounds, both nearly 100-feet-tall, which sit in the north and south lawns.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has overseen renovations to the people’s host, marking some of the most significant changes in modern presidential history, from the Rose Garden being bulldozed and paved over to bathroom renovations and the construction of a ballroom in the East Wing.

In an image taken on November 16, Trump is pictured returning to the White House after having spent the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

As the president walks on the lawn, behind him, the American flag is lying on the floor.


...............

The White House has not publicly responded or explained what led to the flag being on the ground as of reporting..........................

[BlueWavePsych]

8. Good to have more links. Thanks.

[fargone]

63. The White House explanation is plausible but not yet proven

Snopes has yet to resolve the issue (https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/11/17/white-house-flag-on-ground/). The photo does not definitely establish that the flag is on the ground. It is too dark and there are shrubs (the metaphor is brilliant, though and should be used as much as possible). There are at least 2 people behind the flag. Are they secret service or grounds keepers, I don't know. Newsweek said the flag appeared to be on the floor which is silly because there is no floor outside. There is a corner of a possible container at the bottom of the pole. That could be easily confirmed by a daylight photo. If the White House weren't incompetent they would have already done that. It would be an easy show and tell. There are lots of online pictures of the erection ceremony but the ground around the base was clear at that time, no shrubs, no lights, nothing. Was it unusually windy NWS data could confirm that. Obviously the helicopter brings additional wind. If it is standard protocol for a certain wind speed and helo landing there should be other examples. The lights pointing up in the sky might be shut off for helo landings. Don't want to accidentally blind the pilot.

[Autumn]

9. He doesn't give a shit about the flag. If no one was around he would wipe his ass with it.

The flag is nothing more than a rag he uses to tickle the dicks of his true believers and get them excited.

[AZ8theist]

10. He shits all over this country and it's citizens.

Why would desecrating the flag come as a surprise with this asshole??

[flashman13]

11. I believe it would be better described as a metaphor.

[BurnDoubt]

13. I see the problem here...

That's the OLD flag.
The NEW flag is coming in two weeks, according to "un-named sources".
It'll have twelve stripes, because that's the Best Age for girls, and fifty Gold stars, because he's doing such a great job!
Thank you for your attention to this matter!

[catbyte]

14. That thing has been desecrating the flag for years. Melanie too.

[lastlib]

22. Desecrating the flag.

A violation of the US Flag Code.

Also desecrating the flag:


The American flag has joined the #metoo movement as a victim of a sexual assault.

[Fil1957]

24. There was a guy in a focus group who said that he decided to vote for Trump when he hugged the flag!

What a moron! You vote for someone 'cause he does something obviously stupid?

But it would explain why so many people are bent out of shape by the picture of the flag on the ground.

[calimary]

25. OMG! O. M. G.!

O! M! G!!!!!

[calimary]

28. Those signatures look like they're mimicking each other.

Or maybe she changed hers to match his, once she got involved with him?

No idea. All I do know is that they both look demonic.

[Polybius]

55. There used to be a time when even wearing American flag apparel was frowned upon

Or so I was told by some old timers.

[progressoid]

62. Barf warning ahead. Here's G Gordon Liddy sporting a patriotic swim suit

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DcmUaNCXcAA6Uzu

Link to tweet

[BattleRow]

15. Dragging the entire country through the mud.

Last edited Mon Nov 17, 2025, 03:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Low down and dirty..all the way.

[BarbD]

16. He is obviously focused on

trying to put one foot in front of the other.

Egad! Doesn't know where he is, where he's going or where he's been.

[Justice matters.]

19. Karma

Is real.

[not fooled]

20. Yes. Cut the nasty old man some slack.

[calimary]

26. Nope!!!

[SpankMe]

17. Was this one of Asshole's new mega-flag poles? n/t

[AllaN01Bear]

18. ""

grr.

[Vinca]

21. Even the used car dealership with the giant flagpole manages to keep the flag off the ground.

[NBachers]

27. "Get that son of a bitch out of the White House right now! He's fired!"

[GreenWave]

29. Dramatic foreshadowing I hope.

[Diamond_Dog]

32. Which one is more pathetic looking?

Donny or the crumpled flag?

[markodochartaigh]

34. Before I saw the picture

I assumed that the flag was wadded up with the Constitution in a trash can.

[popsdenver]

36. No shit

maybe they are trying to destroy the White House American Flag, so he can begin running up one with a giant picture of him on it.....

He has already put large banners permanently on some Federal Buildings with his picture silk screened on it.....Just like all the other dictators in other countries.......
Contracts have probably already gone out for a 20' marble bust of him to put out in front of the Taj Mahal Ballroom.....
And one for Stephen Miller, just in case..........

[Buddyzbuddy]

37. At least he's not wearing a tan suit.

[Nigrum Cattus]

38. was it on purpose ?

seems to me that security would have seen that

[Blue Owl]

40. Desecratin' Donny Dump

[tanyev]

41. "Trump's advocacy for Old Glory"

Oh, is that what the media sane-washers are calling this?

[republianmushroom]

42. Surprised he didn't try to hump it while it was down.

[twodogsbarking]

45. No one has ever seen the flag flown this way.

One more for the score card.

[mahina]

46. And his failure to notice or care.

[bluestarone]

47. I don't think, even the smartest ones here, thought that TSF would be

Allowed to do everything he's doing to our AMERICA!

[progree]

48. The source is MEDIAite, whose reporters and editors produced this article

Yahoo is simply the hosting site for articles from a wide wide range of sources, including ones from Fox.

Yahoo does also produce articles, this article (loaded with opinions) shouldn't be confused with those.

[mwb970]

49. Another sad metaphor for trump's failed presidency.

[SusieCreamcheese]

50. Heads will roll

Heads will roll when he sees this picture. He is so careful to present himself as a strong patriot. Here he looks defeated in front of a desecrated flag.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

51. Flagpoles at White House risk Helicopter Operations

trump added these flags. It may be that the flags have to taken down if trump arrives by helicopter


See https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220412949

[Miles Archer]

52. "...As the president returned from Palm Beach on Monday night..."

So the taxpayer-funded 3-day play weekend is now a taxpayer-funded 4 day weekend. Got it.

[leanforward]

53. This place sets the tone!

1) Why is the flag in the dirt?, and
2) Who/Why let that pole be placed in the WAY of air traffic?

The tone is set by tRump. And it is now apparent that those responsible are afraid to advise of respect or aviation safety for fear of retribution.

[LittleGirl]

54. I shared the photo on FB

It’s going to end up my header when he goes down.

[Orrex]

56. Trump wipes his ass with the Constitution daily, so the flag has even less meaning for him.

[kimbutgar]

57. He looks so deranged and insane.

[Crowman2009]

58. Not a peep from those MAGA vets.

Fuckin' hypocrites!

[timms139]

59. No suprise

he has wiped his orange anus for 10 years with the flag and everything it stands for .

[Skittles]

60. I think it is fitting, in honor of Cheney

yes indeed

[MadameButterfly]

61. Ironic to me that it's the flag

and the sex that is going to get him, especially the pedophilia they've been chasing since Pizzagate. That's what MAGAs care about. Not democracy, raiding the treasury, invading cities, ending due process, loss of healthcare, foreign dictatorships, war crimes, NATO, revenge prosecutions, pardoning criminals, social security, the planet, and all the deaths yet to come.

[Gimpyknee]

64. Reminds me of a flag lowering ceremony I participated in when I was stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

It was for the evening colors ceremony more than fifty years ago. The flag was an overly large holiday flag that was also flown on Sundays. The ensign had been exposed to an ice storm throughout the day and was completely encrusted in ice. We were unable to lower it and I needed to use a ladder to climb up and cut it down. A crusty old Chief Boatswain’s Mate said he would have my ass if I allowed it to drop or touch the ground.