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A flagpole in Columbus, Ohio, has sparked backlash after the large American flag that was raised on a small plot of land was replaced with a Trump 2024 flag.
Over the weekend, Preferred Living, a luxury apartment developer, replaced the U.S. flag and smaller Italian flag that were flying at a Franklin Township corner with a campaign banner for former President Donald Trump, the Columbus Dispatch reported. The move sparked criticism, drawing negative Google reviews and complaints from residents in nearby apartment complexes.
"I think it's putting a political affiliation on the entire complex," Lizzie Jackson, who lives at one of the apartments adjacent from the triangular plot, told the Dispatch. "I don't like that I have to tell visitors, 'Turn left at the giant Trump flag.'"
"I couldn't help but notice today that the American flag ... has been replaced with a Trump flag. I find this offensive and insulting to our country and all the residents that live here," one review said. "It should be taken down and the American flag that is a symbol for our country regardless of your political party should be raised up instead. So disrespectful."
A day after the local outlet published its story, Preferred Living put the American flag back up. Newsweek reached out to the developer for comment.
Residents of Belmont House and the Hanover Park apartments next door reportedly received an email over the weekend from the company overseeing their complexes that acknowledged complaints it had received, but directed concerns to Preferred Living.
"After careful investigation, we have confirmed that the flag was rightfully put up by the owners of the parcel. We understand that this may have raised questions and concerns among some of you," the email read. "Please be assured that the staff of Belmont House and Hanover Park do not engage in political activity nor do we endorse any political candidate. Our primary focus is to provide a safe and comfortable living environment for all our residents."
Videos of the blue flag, which included the words "Trump 2024" and "Make America Great Again" were also shared on Reddit.
"I dont care what people wanna do inside their bedrooms but they dont need to be flaunting it out in the open like that," one user wrote.
"This is so disgusting," another said. "Having to look out my window and see this ugly flag. Even regardless of political affiliations, your home should not be a place where you feel uncomfortable. And although live preferred doesn't own my apartment building, they own the flagpole directly next-door and I am not OK with this."
This is not the first time Preferred Living has hung a flag in an act of political speech. In 2020, the developer draped a 30-foot-by-60-foot American flag on the side of one of its construction projects in protest against COVID business shutdowns.
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About the writer
Katherine Fung is a Newsweek senior reporter based in New York City. She has covered U.S. politics and culture extensively. ... Read more