Worth Knowing, Probably Not Quite Threadworthy 11/17

[enslaved1]

Social Media Erupts as US Flag Seen on the Ground Behind Trump at White House

It’s a scar-spangled banner for President Donald Trump.

As the president returned from Palm Beach on Monday night, some social media users were quick to point out that as he walked, an American flag could be seen on the ground behind him, a clear violation of the U.S. Flag code.

The code states the following: “The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.”

It was a surprising sight for the Trump White House, especially given Trump’s advocacy for Old Glory.

In 2017, he attacked NFL players who knelt for the playing of the national anthem, saying, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he’s fired. He’s fired.'”

Over the summer, Trump signed an executive order to criminalize flag-burning.

A photo of a haggard-looking Trump on Sunday night with the flag behind him, taken by Getty Images photographer Mandel Ngan, has been widely shared on social media, with users attacking Trump over the imagery:

A clearer image of just the flag on the ground was also posted:

Suddenly the flag burners care about how a flag is treated.  I can't roll my eyes hard enough.  Especially given the distinct possibility that the shot of Trump in front of it is fake.  But the Social Justice Keyboard Warriors are out in force on Twitter and Reddit.   

[SVPete]

First question, is the image real or a fauxtoshop?

Second question, if it's real, did Trump do nothing about it or did he promptly detail a staff person to take care of the fallen flag?

[ADsOutburst]

As I like to say, media outlets don't report news; they create it.

No further details, just one snapshot. But now the left has another talking point to repeat all over social media.

[SVPete]

As I like to say, media outlets don't report news; they create it.

No further details, just one snapshot. But now the left has another talking point to repeat all over social media.

Pictures, by definition, exclude context - what happened before, what caused what is pictured, and what happened after. But the partisanship, if any, is in the heart of those choosing what picture to publish.