Americans are divided regarding the display of the U.S. flag due to political polarization, with some residents choosing to modify their flag displays or refrain from flying the flag altogether while others continue to exhibit it.

Frank Chappell, a Master Sgt. in the Air National Guard assigned to the 171st Air Refueling Wing, replaced the U.S. flag with the state flag of Pennsylvania when he bought his home in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. "Part of what makes us Americans is that we can meet in the middle, we can come together in the center and find things we can all agree on. But what Trump has been doing, through some of his rhetoric and policies, is driving a wedge between Americans, dividing us even further. So when I bought my home, I replaced the U.S. flag with the state flag of Pennsylvania," Chappell said.

A Rhode Island teacher who requested anonymity has not flown the American flag since 2024. "I was always patriotic, flew the flag, wore red, white and blue with flags and fireworks all summer. Now, I've watched Trump and MAGA turn the flag into a symbol of intolerance and hate," the teacher said. "I have a gay son and a trans son and felt that that flag was now a symbol flown by people who don't want my children to exist."

Rebecca Dyer, a resident of Kaysville, Utah, expressed her continued pride in the flag and the country. "I just want to say I love our flag, I love our country and I want people to realize this is not about one party or one person. Yes, the last few years have been hard, and sometimes it feels like our flag has been taken over. But I'm flying the flag because I'm still proud of our country, even if it's not where I think it should be 250 years after it was founded," Dyer said.

Some individuals have chosen to fly the flag upside down. An upside-down flag was displayed outside the Virginia home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in January 2021. Trump supporters flew flags upside down after the 2020 election.

Dave Cavannah, a woodcarver from Monson, Massachusetts, said that he is proud to be an American and believes the flag should be flown correctly. "I couldn't be prouder to be an American. I believe Americans should be proud to fly the flag and fly it the right way. What's shameful is that people who hate Trump are flying the flag upside down," Cavannah said. He is carving a statue of Donald Trump on his front lawn.

A woman from Newtown, Pennsylvania, displays an American flag because of neighborhood expectations. "I display my flag outside my home mainly because everyone else around my neighborhood does it, even though I'm not 100% proud to be American. I feel that if I don't have a flag displayed somewhere, people will think I'm against our country or something," she said. Erin Beltle, who lives outside Philadelphia, said that if it were up to her and her mother, they would fly a Pride flag or a Philadelphia Eagles flag instead of the American flag.

Why It Matters

The varied approaches to displaying the U.S. flag reflect different reactions to political polarization within the country. These actions include replacing the flag with other banners, flying it inverted, or continuing its display with additional messaging or reservations.