As the United States marks its 250th birthday, a new survey of American attitudes toward the national flag reveals deep political divisions over what was once considered an unquestioned symbol of patriotism. NBC News spoke with dozens of Americans who described their changing relationships with the Stars and Stripes amid heightened partisan tensions during President Donald Trump's second term.
The semiquincentennial celebration has coincided with a moment when, according to polls cited in the report, patriotism, national pride and optimism for America's future all appear to be fraying. For some citizens, displaying the flag now carries political implications they find uncomfortable, while others maintain their commitment to flying it regardless of who occupies the White House.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Americans and Trump critics described the flag as increasingly tied to the current administration in ways that make them uneasy about displaying it publicly. Bruce Watson, a 72-year-old writer from Montague, Massachusetts, said he plans to fly his flag but will add signs clarifying he is not endorsing MAGA politics. "I'm very proud of our flag," Watson told NBC News. "It's the symbol of 'We, the People.' But if we do fly the flag, we will also put out signs to make it clear that we are not MAGA."
Several readers said they plan to display the flag upside down as a protest signal, arguing the nation is in distress under Trump policies. Dina Bannick, 61, of Adel, Iowa, near Des Moines, said: "Donald Trump has turned everything upside down, so it makes sense our flag should be upside down. It's a shame. We used to be a proud nation. Now, our country is in distress."
A Rhode Island teacher who requested anonymity to protect her family said she stopped flying the flag after Trump's 2024 election victory. "I was always patriotic, flew the flag, wore red, white and blue with flags and fireworks all summer," she told NBC News. "Now, I've watched Trump and MAGA turn the flag into a symbol of intolerance and hate." She noted she has a gay son and a trans son and felt the flag had become associated with people who oppose her children's existence.
Some Americans are replacing American flags with alternative banners entirely. Erin Beltle, 22, who lives outside Philadelphia, said: "I love our country, but I'm not feeling very proud of our country right now." She noted her family would prefer to fly a Pride flag or the Philadelphia Eagles flag instead.
What the Right Is Saying
Trump supporters and conservative Americans rejected the notion that flying the flag constitutes an endorsement of any political figure, arguing the Stars and Stripes represents timeless American values independent of any administration. Dave Cavannah, 49, a professional woodcarver from Monson, Massachusetts, expressed strong pride in both Trump and country. "I couldn't be prouder to be an American," Cavannah said. "I believe Americans should be proud to fly the flag and fly it the right way." He is crafting a statue of Trump that sits partially finished on his front lawn.
Conservative commentators and Republican voters argued critics who refuse to fly the flag or display it upside down are disrespecting national symbols rather than making legitimate political statements. Cavannah added: "What's shameful is that people who hate Trump are flying the flag upside down."
Historians aligned with conservative perspectives noted that Trump's supporters have also flown flags upside down, most notably after his defeat in the 2020 election to Joe Biden. An upside-down flag was spotted outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's Virginia home in January 2021.
What the Numbers Show
Flagmakers report significant demand increase heading into the semiquincentennial year. Carter Beard, president of Annin Flagmakers, a sixth-generation family firm based in New Jersey that has produced flags for Abraham Lincoln's funeral and the Apollo moon landing, told NBC News: "Business is up for sure. Not like 50%, but in the 20% range. This being the anniversary, we're definitely seeing a surge of patriotism with people wanting to fly the flag."
Historical records show American individuals did not commonly display flags at private homes until after the Civil War and the 1876 centennial celebration, according to historians. Flags were previously reserved mainly for government buildings.
Polls cited in NBC News reporting indicate that patriotism, national pride and optimism about America's future are all declining, though exact polling figures were not provided in the source material. The survey of reader attitudes described in the article reflects anecdotal experiences rather than statistically representative sampling.
The Bottom Line
The debate over the American flag's meaning reflects broader divisions in American political life during Trump's second term. Historians note this is not a new phenomenon; the struggle over patriotic symbolism dates back at least to Vietnam War-era protests when both sides claimed the flag for opposing positions on the conflict.
Princeton historian Sean Wilentz told NBC News that conservative and right-wing politicians "seized the flag" in recent decades, exploiting it politically. Syracuse University professor Alex Wagner argued the flag belongs to all Americans regardless of political affiliation: "It's not MAGA's flag. It's not Trump's flag. It's the American flag, and it belongs to all of us."
As the nation celebrates 250 years of independence, whether to fly the Stars and Stripes has become yet another flashpoint in an increasingly polarized political landscape, with citizens navigating questions about identity, patriotism and what it means to be American in 2026.