Donald Trump’s associates made very clear months ago that “one flag only” policy, stated emphatically by Marco Rubio, was the law of the land. But apparently their own rules were made to be broken: “Appeal to Heaven” flag—which dates back to Revolutionary War but more recently has been appropriated by white nationalists during January 6th Insurrection—was recently spotted flying underneath Stars and Stripes at the Small Business Administration headquarters, per Wired magazine.
A controversial ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag that has recently become associated with ‘Stop the Steal’ movement and Christian nationalism was flown above the Small Business Administration (SBA) agency last week in Washington, DC. On June 11, Kelly Loeffler, the former senator from Georgia and current administrator of the SBA, participated in a ceremony where a new flag of the United States was raised over the agency’s headquarters. Just beneath that flag, on what appeared to be the same halyard, was an Appeal to Heaven flag. Sources tell WIRED that the ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag was raised for less than a day.
Vittoria Elliott and Leah Feiger, Wired Magazine
The flag, which appears in a post that’s still live on Loeffler’s Twitter/X handle, was apparently taken down about a day later—with no apparent explanation. Wired’s Vittoria Elliott and Leah Feiger spoke to an anonymous SBA staffer who said it was “jarring” to see that flag flying with America’s.
‘It was pretty jarring to walk out of work and see that flag on the building, and it’s frustrating because it makes it seem like the agency as a whole supports what it has come to stand for, when that’s just not true. We’re proud to do work that supports, or at least is supposed to support, all Americans. The decision to raise that flag isn’t one that reflects the views of everyone at SBA.’
Vittoria Elliott and Leah Feiger, Wired Magazine
“Appeal to Heaven” flag has appeared in other, equally “auspicious” places. Mike Johnson flew it outside his office and then later disavowed any knowledge; and Sam Alito did the same (flying, then disavowing) at his vacation home.
AUTHOR FOOTNOTE
Backtracking is a singular hallmark of modern-day right wing. In other words, when they get caught, the general message becomes “I had no knowledge how dare you,” or (if the incriminating thing is digital) they just simply *poof* delete it without explanation. Ginni Thomas, Lenny Leo and yes The Alitos have gotten busted doing sketchy things and supporting sketchy projects—which ultimately led to flimsy denials or evidence getting taken down.
But I’m most interested in the contrast here with Rubio (who gets indignant at the drop of a hat, about literally anything), who led the charge back in January ostracize LGBTQ+ community by demanding no other flags fly on U.S. properties, like the Pride flag. As such, backtracking isn’t the only feature of the right wing: it’s the hypocrisy too.
For her part, Loeffler is well known in my home state of Georgia for being an unprincipled hack who, at least for a time, pushed “Stop the Steal” nonsense in 2020 to help her now-boss. Back then she was a temporary senator from Georgia, but knowing what we know now her antics feel like a job-audition reel—much like J.D. Vance‘s podcast appearances.
SOURCES
- Wired
- Kelly Loeffler on Twitter/X
- Daily Beast
