GOP Lawmaker Bombarded With Confederate Flags After Declaring 'We Fly the American Flag' Over LA Protests

Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) is being bombarded with images of protestors flying Confederate flags after he wrote, "We fly the American flag in America."

The X post, published on Tuesday, comes amid ongoing protests in LA, where immigrant rights advocates have waved Mexican flags in displays of solidarity or pride. In LA, 47.2% of the population is Hispanic and nearly four million residents were born in Mexico.

While Jordan did not explicitly reference the unrest or Mexican flags, his post — made as federal troops and National Guard forces were deployed in Los Angeles — was interpreted as a response to the demonstrations.

Critics flooded the comments section of his post with images undermining Jordan's point, sharing photos of Confederate, Nazi and Trump flags displayed at far-right demonstrations and the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021.

Users shared images of other flags associated with far-right assembly, including Trump and Nazi flags.

"So why does MAGA constantly fly Trump flags?" one user asked. "So you're saying people shouldn't be flying MAGA and Trump flags?" asked another.

Other social media users posted photos from outside Jordan's office, where an image of Israel's flag is hung next to an the American flag. The words "I stand with Israel" are written on the flag, sparking accusations of hypocrisy beneath Jordan's post stating only American flags should be displayed in America.

In January, the U.S. Department of State issued a "One Flag Policy," banning the display of any flag other than the U.S. flag at federal facilities. The measure is thought to be a reaction to instances where the Pride flag or Black Lives Matter banners were flown at the White House or embassies.

Loaded with symbolism, flags have frequently featured at the center of contentious debates. The Supreme Court has overturned laws banning flag desecration, ruling that the First Amendment protects flag burning as symbolic speech.

In 1848, the Mexican-American war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which Mexico ceded 55% of its territory to the United States, including what is now the state of California. Mexican heritage has shaped the diverse culture of Los Angeles — Spanish for the city of angels — in the country's second largest city.