Patriot Steps In: Defending the American Flag

In a video that has quickly gone viral across conservative circles on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Rumble, a man is seen walking calmly down a city street—until he spots something that sparks a quiet but powerful act of resistance. On a public lamppost, where the American flag once flew in proud solitude, now waves the rainbow-colored symbol of the LGBTQ+ movement. The man pauses, looks up, and—without a word—removes the pride flag, folds it, and throws it into a trash bin nearby.

For some, it was a small act. For millions of Americans who saw the video, it was a moment of long-awaited dignity.

In a cultural moment where citizens are being told that traditional values are outdated, that patriotism is “problematic,” and that one must constantly bow to ever-changing ideologies, this video struck a chord. Not just for what it showed—but for what it represents.

A Flag Imposed, Not Elected
Let’s be clear: no one voted for the Pride flag to be installed in public spaces. No referendum, no local consultation, no democratic process. Yet it appears, over and over again—in front of schools, courthouses, embassies abroad, and even on military bases. It has, in many places, replaced or overshadowed the American flag itself. This isn’t representation. It’s ideological colonization.

Under the guise of “inclusion,” city councils, public school districts, and progressive mayors have adopted a rainbow liturgy—waving a flag that does not unify, but categorizes. A flag that no longer represents orientation alone, but a complex and ever-expanding set of political demands, identities, and social theories.

As retired Marine officer Daniel Hayes said in an interview with Liberty News, “We fought under one flag. One. The stars and stripes. That was our symbol of unity. Now I walk by my grandson’s school and see a rainbow flag flying higher than Old Glory. That’s not progress. That’s erasure.”

Courage in the Age of Cowardice
In the video, the man says nothing. He doesn’t scream or insult anyone. He simply does what many Americans have silently wished they had the courage to do: remove the symbol of ideology from a space meant to belong to everyone. And in that act, he did not just throw away a flag—he reminded millions that this country still belongs to the people, not to activists or unelected cultural elites.

Republican Congressman Mark Holloway of Texas responded publicly to the video, saying, “That man is a patriot. We are not anti-anyone. We are pro-America. And the American flag is the only one that should fly on public property, period.”

President Donald J. Trump also shared the video on Truth Social, adding: “It’s time we take our streets, schools, and institutions BACK. ONE FLAG. ONE NATION. UNDER GOD.”

When Inclusion Becomes Imposition
Once upon a time, the rainbow flag was promoted as a peaceful symbol of coexistence. Today, it is a political weapon, used to divide and shame. In many workplaces, employees are now required to attend Pride events or display pronouns in email signatures. In some states, public school teachers are evaluated on how “LGBTQ+ inclusive” their curriculum is—regardless of subject or student age.

When government buildings fly the Pride flag on par with—or in place of—the U.S. flag, they are not promoting neutrality. They are choosing sides in a cultural war. A war that many Americans never agreed to fight, and certainly never signed up to lose.

As conservative radio host Grace Whittaker put it, “We’re told to be tolerant. But tolerance is not a one-way street. When a flag representing 0.01% of the population flies above the one that represents 100% of us—something has gone terribly wrong.”

Silent Majority, No More
The man in the video is not alone. He is part of what Trump called “the great silent majority” back in his 2016 campaign—a majority that loves their country, believes in traditional values, and is tired of being told they’re the problem.

A recent Gallup poll from 2025 found that 62% of Americans believe the Pride flag should not be flown on government property. That includes not just Republicans, but Independents and even moderate Democrats. Why? Because Americans are waking up to a simple truth: unity can’t be built on division.

And unity can’t be built when one group demands total allegiance to their worldview—under threat of cancellation, unemployment, or being labeled “phobic” for asking basic questions.

The Road Ahead: One Flag, One Nation
This viral moment should not be dismissed as “reactionary” or “extreme.” It is a wake-up call. A quiet but firm reminder that Americans still care—deeply—about their nation’s symbols, values, and institutions. That they will not sit back while those symbols are overwritten or replaced. That they are done being silent.

Removing a flag from a pole may seem like a small act. But in the current climate, it is an act of rebellion. And rebellion—when aimed at restoring truth, unity, and national identity—is a form of patriotism.

One man. One flagpole. One act of courage.

The message was clear: This country already has a flag. And it’s red, white, and blue.