The White House has responded to a photo appearing to show the American flag on the ground after it prompted widespread scrutiny.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle said: “The beautiful American flag on the White House South Lawn that was recently installed by President [Donald] Trump never touched the ground.

“Due to the high winds on Sunday evening in the Washington, D.C. area, the flag was lowered into a special container out of an abundance of caution during the Marine One landing.”

Newsweek contacted the White House outside of regular business hours via the form on its website for further comment.

Why It Matters

The incident, which took place on Sunday, November 16, 2025, has raised questions about compliance with the U.S. Flag Code and the symbolism of the American flag on

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