Fact check: Did White House violate US 'flag code' during Pride event?
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall tweeted that displaying the progress pride flag between two American flags during a White House pride event was "in breach of US Flag Code."
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For some people, the sight of the progress pride flag hanging from the White House’s South Lawn on June 10 was welcome, emblematic of the Biden administration’s support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Others claimed the flag with its horizontal rainbow stripes and triangular white, pink, blue, brown and black stripes represented a departure from decorum, or worse — a violation of the traditional rules for displaying the U.S. flag.
On June 11, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., called the display "a disgrace" on Twitter.
"Not only is it in breach of US Flag Code, but it’s a glaring example of this White Houses’ incompetence and insistence on putting their social agenda ahead of patriotism," he wrote.
Marshall wasn’t the only person upset about the pride flag at the White House.
In the days that followed the pride event, the flag code violation claim was repeated or shared by many others, including a host, reporter and guest on Fox News and Tom Fitton, president of the conservative organization Judicial Watch.
Marshall did not respond to PolitiFact’s request for comment, so it was not immediately clear what part of U.S. flag code he believed the White House breached. However, during a Newsmax interview Marshall shared June 15 on YouTube, Marshall encouraged people to go to the American Legion’s website and look at its flag code.
"Their flag code clearly states that the American flag, if it’s in a display, should be in the center," he said. "It should be in a place of prominence — the place of prominence — and centered as well."
Marshall’s remarks suggest he was referring to Section 7(e), which delineates how the flag should be displayed when it is among other flags.
Photos show that in the June 10 White House display, the progress pride flag was centered between two American flags, but there was another American flag flying overhead from a staff, higher than all the other flags.
It also said flag code does not cover all situations, meaning that "different interpretations of various provisions of the Code may continue to be made."
Flag code says "no disrespect should be shown" to the flag.
"Therefore, actions not specifically included in the Code may be deemed acceptable as long as proper respect is shown," the Congressional Research Service wrote.
In an article titled, "‘Top Ten’ American Flag Myths," the American Legion noted that the code "is simply a guideline for proper flag etiquette."
"The law does not provide penalties for violation of any of its provisions," it said.
The White House did not respond to PolitiFact’s request for comment. Asked about the flag flap during a June 13 press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration was proud to display the pride flag and that the event was centered "around love and family."
"I’m certainly not going to get into protocols from here, or I’ll leave that to others," she said.
PolitiFact ruling
Marshall claimed that displaying the progress pride flag between two American flags at a White House pride event was a "breach of US Flag Code."
U.S. flag code provides average American civilians guidance for proper flag etiquette.
Marshall appeared to base his claim on a portion of flag code that says the American flag "should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags" when flags are "grouped and displayed from staffs."
The flags in question weren’t flown from staffs, and, above the three-flag display, another American flag was flying from a staff.
We rate this claim False.
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