Does flying an American flag now signal allegiance to Donald Trump? That question, once absurd, has become a litmus test in a nation where symbols of patriotism have been co-opted by partisan performance. For many, especially those who served, the flag remains a deeply personal emblem of service and hope—not a campaign banner.
When I bought my first home, installing a flag was instinctive. As a Marine, that emblem represents the ideals I swore to defend. But when I shared a photo on Instagram, friends joked—half-seriously—that I might be mistaken for a “Trumper.” Their comments reflect a troubling shift: displays of patriotism are now often associated with the most performative, cringeworthy expressions of MAGA support. Meanwhile, many Americans have retreated from expressing love for their country, fearing association with a president who has monopolized patriotic imagery. This dynamic is especially pronounced as the nation approaches its 250th birthday.
We are caught between two extremes. On one side, there are those who wrap themselves in the flag while pushing policies that undermine democratic norms—like the corruption spree involving GOP officials and a growing slush fund. On the other, there is a tendency to dismiss America’s achievements entirely, focusing only on its flaws. Both sides miss the point. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated, patriotism is not about blind allegiance or wholesale condemnation. It is about holding the country to its highest ideals.
King’s final speech, delivered in support of striking sanitation workers in Memphis, tied the fight for economic justice to love of country. “I read the greatness of America is the right to protest for right,” he said, before quoting the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” His patriotism was not about flag pins or fireworks; it was about demanding that America live up to its promise. That is a far cry from the current president’s approach, which often involves rewriting history to erase uncomfortable truths.
The tension is real. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the words that have been used by every marginalized group to demand equality, was also a slave owner who exploited Sally Hemings. His hypocrisy is undeniable, but his words remain a benchmark. Frederick Douglass, a runaway slave, used Jefferson’s language to indict the nation’s hypocrisy in his famous speech, “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” Yet Douglass did not give up on America. He recruited Black men, including his own sons, to fight for the Union and end slavery. He loved the country enough to fight for its soul.
That model of patriotic love—critical, demanding, but ultimately hopeful—is what we need now. It is not about ignoring problems like inflation, endless foreign wars, or the cognitive toll of AI-driven news cycles. It is about believing that America can be better, and working to make it so. As the nation’s 250th celebration approaches, we should honor not just the symbols, but the substance of patriotism: the courage to learn from the past, the humility to acknowledge flaws, and the resolve to build a more perfect union.
Real patriotism is not performative. It is the quiet work of loving your country enough to hold it accountable—and to never stop believing it can change.
