The New York Times is under fire for politicizing displays of the American flag over Independence Day weekend.
The article titled “A Fourth of July Symbol of Unity That May No Longer Unite” comes weeks after the company was forced to defend an editorial writer who said she was “really disturbed” to see Old Glory flown by Trump supporters.
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“Today, flying the American flag from the back of a pickup truck or over a lawn is increasingly seen as a clue, albeit an imperfect one, to a person’s political affiliation in a deeply divided nation,” the Times tweeted.
Sarah Maslin Nir wrote Saturday that Trump supporters embrace the flag “so fervently” that leftists have “all but ceded the national emblem to the right.”
“What was once a unifying symbol – there is a star on it for each state, after all – is now alienating to some, its stripes now fault lines between people who kneel while ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ plays and those for whom not pledging allegiance is an affront,” Nir wrote.
The Times sparked outrage on social media over the piece.
“When you hate Trump so much you now find the American flag ‘alienating,'” Byron York, Washington Examiner chief political correspondent and Fox News contributor, tweeted.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) wrote: “Apparently loving our country’s flag is now offensive. Disgusting.”
Donald Trump Jr. tweeted: “How many days till these clowns start saying anyone flying the American flag is a racist? I’ll say less than a week.”
Many, including Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL), tweeted images of American flags in response.
Caleb Parke is a senior correspondent for the ‘Todd Starnes Show.’ Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and connect with him at calebparke.com.