If there is anything President
Donald Trump
is apt at, it is creating controversy where there does not need to be one. Recently, the White House raised two huge flag poles in its garden. These are 88-foot flagpoles, one on the North Lawn near Pennsylvania Avenue and another on the South Lawn.
This is something that should have been taken care of by one of many staffers at the
White House
. However, there he was, President of the United States, overseeing the process as if it meant more than the problems the nation is facing.
However, poles have been raised and
flags are flying
, and now the public on and off social media has its opening.
These flag poles have drawn sharp reactions across the political spectrum. Blowing his own trumpet, Trump has called these poles beautiful and the most magnificent thing he has ever seen. He has called these poles the personal gift to the nation. He also claimed that these were funded entirely out of his own pocket with an estimated price tag of $50,000 each.
The poles are massive with thoughtful engineering. There is an internal rope system that will reduce the noise from the flag flapping during wind conditions.
These are built for durability and are intended to be the permanent fixtures of the white house. These are being disguised as an enduring visual and a symbol of Trump’s interpretation of patriotism.
🚨 NOW: President Trump stops and admires his big beautiful new flag after he exits Marine One and enters the White House 🇺🇸
He then points at the flag for the media and gives it a thumbs up.
Classic Trump 🤣
pic.twitter.com/ZEGRd3kNd8
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor)
June 21, 2025
The new additions have been enthusiastically received by Trump’s supporters. Social media is flooded with celebratory posts. Some have described these installations as a “big beautiful hug” and others have said that these are “awesomely done”.
For those in the MAGA movement, the towering flags represent a bold statement of national pride and identity. Many see them as physical affirmations of Trump’s unwavering commitment to the American cause.
Trump supporters also view these installations as reclaiming the visuals of the white house. They find it reassuring and paint the white house with “traditional values and national symbolism”.
What an absolute BOSS! 🇺🇸❤️
We stand with you, Mr. President.
https://t.co/rpmx5WcD98
— 919 designz Studio (@919designz)
June 22, 2025
These poles are yet another example of Trump’s idea of Branding- Big, bold, and using the American iconography.
However, not everyone is a fan. Many social media platforms have compared these flags to those at car dealerships. There are also some derisive hashtags like #WhiteTrashHouse that surfaced almost immediately.
People claim that these installations are gaudier than nationalism. They have called it a theatrical gesture that lacks dignity and subtlety. Aside from aesthetics, there are questions of logistics too. One raised by Former Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. He has questioned if such tall poles near the South Lawn are a sound decision and if it would interfere withMarine One Helicopter Landing.
Well it is a car dealership now 😆🤡🤡🤡🤡
— Dinah Fyre 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🇺🇦 (@docblock66)
July 9, 2025
Others raised concerns about the violation of flag etiquette. Some have even questioned if these unilateral changes to a national landmark were appropriate.
Controversy is not about the poles, essentially. It is about what American flag has come to represent. It is no longer a source of unity between American citizens but of a sense of patriotism that asks for alienation of immigrants and anything that is not in line with American values. It also affirms the idea of America being the greatest nation on earth and that every country bows down to the US despite the fact that America is failing at several fronts at the moment.
Right now, those who don’t stand with Donald Trump are being considered anti-American, and in such a political environment, people are struggling with what it means to be patriotic.
Trump’s flagpoles stand as markers of a nation deeply divided over what patriotism looks like in the 21st century.
