Why does Old Glory have to be controversial?
A new Gallup survey shows American national pride has hit a record low since 2001, with the flag becoming a partisan symbol as Republican flag displays surge to 69 percent while Democratic displays drop to 26 percent.
According to Sam Korkus writing in Washington Examiner, the same Gallup data shows Americans are now deeply split over the meaning of their own flag, despite the percentage of citizens who display it at home remaining steady at 43 percent since 1986.
The breakdown by political affiliation tells a stark story. In 1986, Republicans comprised 50 percent of flag-flyers. That figure has now surged to 69 percent. Democrats, meanwhile, have seen their share collapse from 42 percent to just 26 percent. Independent voters make up 42 percent of those who fly the flag, up from 36 percent nearly four decades ago.
The cultural shift has produced real-world consequences. Homeowners’ associations are fining residents for displaying the Stars and Stripes. Some Americans claim they fear entering stores like Bass Pro Shops because of the flags displayed outside. Major news organizations have reinforced the narrative that the traditional red, white, and blue banner has become a partisan Republican emblem.
NBC News crystallized the transformation with a recent headline stating, As nation turns 250, many Americans say the Stars and Stripes is now a red flag, followed by a subheadline declaring the American flag is seen by some as a MAGA hat on a stick.
Bruce Watson, a homeowner in Massachusetts, told NBC he is proud of the flag but would need to display signs making clear he is not a Trump supporter if he were to fly it. Erin Beltle of Pennsylvania said she and her mother would prefer flying a Pride flag or Philadelphia Eagles banner instead of the national colors, adding she does not feel proud of the country at present.
Party Loyalty Replacing National Identity
While Republicans expressed deep frustration throughout the Biden presidency, no significant faction within the conservative movement suggested America itself was fundamentally evil or deserved destruction due to the sitting president. The same cannot be said for elements of the radical left, Korkus argues.
The Gallup data shows that Americans who expressed “extreme pride” in their country began to diverge sharply along partisan lines in 2015 and 2016 during the rise of Donald Trump. Before that period, Democrats and Republicans moved in tandem on measures of national pride. After Trump’s campaign, the pattern inverted—as Republican pride increased, Democratic pride decreased, and vice versa.
This transformation represents a dangerous shift in how Americans view their own symbols. The flag has historically stood as an emblem of endurance and liberty, not as a mere representation of whichever administration controls the White House. Treating it as just another regime symbol reduces the republic to something resembling a monarchy—precisely what the framers sought to prevent.
Flag Stands for Freedom and Achievement
The American flag has witnessed remarkable moments over 250 years of history. It was engraved into the walls of an 18th-century Scottish prison by captives inspired by the revolutionary cause. It stands on the surface of the moon. It flies over the wealthiest and freest nation on Earth. Those who express shame over the flag have forgotten the extraordinary achievements it represents.
Recent incidents underscore the cultural erosion. Buffalo City Hall flew the Somali flag to mark Somalia’s independence day. Some activists seek to replace American Independence Day celebrations with Juneteenth observances that omit the national flag entirely. New Yorkers have supported political candidates who wiped their hands on the American flag in public displays.
The relegation of American patriotism to only a segment of the population marks a troubling departure from the shared national identity that once united citizens across political divides.
With information from Washington Examiner
