In a bid to reclaim the narrative and win back disenfranchised voters, Democrats are opting for an unexpected approach: a renewed embrace of the American flag, the nation’s oldest emblem of patriotism.
Two days before Flag Day, amidst the anticipation of President Donald Trump’s military parade rolling through Washington, Democratic Representatives Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) took to the Capitol on Thursday to distribute a unifying gift to their colleagues — a modest 4-inch-by-6-inch American flag. This distribution coincided with a rather chaotic moment in Los Angeles, where Senator Alex Padilla was being forcibly removed during a Homeland Security press conference, an act later condemned by House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries as “unpatriotic.”
The flags, proudly produced in Deluzio’s home state, were accompanied by a letter penned by Ryan, a West Point graduate and Iraq veteran, and Deluzio, a U.S. Navy officer with multiple deployments. The two have recently united to co-chair the newly formed 18-member Democratic Veterans Caucus, established just three days prior.
“Patriotism does not belong to one party,” their letter asserted. “The flag, and the values it embodies, are the birthright of every American.”
As the Democratic Party seeks to formulate a counter-narrative against the MAGA movement, they are increasingly looking inward, searching for credible voices to challenge the overreach of those currently in power.
Ryan articulated the urgency of the moment to POLITICO, noting, “The timing is incredibly relevant. We’ve witnessed a senator being handcuffed, one of my House colleagues facing charges and indictment, and we’ve seen active-duty troops deployed against U.S. citizens. Trump, now synonymous with the Republican Party, has redefined patriotism to mean support for him and his agenda. If you challenge that, you’re labeled unpatriotic.”
Democrats perceive the upcoming military display in Washington, coinciding with both the Army’s 250th birthday and Trump’s 78th birthday, as a troubling manifestation of a leader who places his ego above national interests. In a recent speech, California Governor Gavin Newsom echoed this sentiment, criticizing Trump for “forcing our American heroes to participate in a grotesque spectacle reminiscent of failed dictatorships.”
This narrative is particularly crucial for a party still reeling from significant electoral losses, particularly in counties that shifted towards Republicans last November. As Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) bluntly stated earlier this year, it’s high time for Democrats to “fucking retake the flag.”
In advance of Trump’s parade, external organizations like VoteVets are mobilizing former servicemembers to draw a stark contrast with the current administration. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a Navy veteran, is rallying fellow veterans online to expose how Trump prioritizes his personal interests over veteran welfare, including firing veterans from federal jobs and undermining the VA. Other military veterans, such as JoAnna Mendoza, who is challenging Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, are joining the effort to push back against this perception.
“Patriotism is not a commodity the Democratic Party should yield; it is not the exclusive domain of the Republican Party,” Moore emphasized in a recent interview.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also took to social media on Thursday, asserting, “Any homage to the flag or claims of American greatness ring hollow if they come without a commitment to the freedoms that flag embodies.” During a town hall in Iowa last month, he delivered a heartfelt message about the flag to his three-year-old daughter, recounting the complex and rich narrative tied to its symbolism.
This moment comes when the party’s leading figures include a number of veterans poised to make significant electoral gains, including some potentially stepping into gubernatorial roles and helping Democrats reclaim the House.
Representative Mikie Sherrill, who has secured her party’s gubernatorial nomination in New Jersey, is a former Navy helicopter pilot.
Her candidacy has inspired a wave of female veterans gearing up to run for Congress in 2026, aspiring to replicate the successes of the 2018 electoral surge by fielding candidates with national security credentials.
Like Buttigieg, other potential 2028 presidential candidates are leaning into powerful national symbols: Kelly, for instance, is also a former astronaut, while Reuben Gallego, a Marine combat veteran, has served in Iraq.
However, in their quest to reclaim the flag from its current right-leaning associations, Democrats face significant challenges. Research indicates that a mere exposure to the American flag can shift voter sentiment to the right for up to eight months.
Major General (Ret.) Paul Eaton, a senior adviser to VoteVets, pointed out that messaging that has effectively pigeonholed the opposition as less patriotic has been remarkably successful on the right.
Mendoza, a retired U.S. Marine, expressed her frustration at the Republican Party’s monopolization of patriotic sentiment, stating her choice of campaign colors — red, white, and blue — is a deliberate effort to reclaim that narrative. “They don’t own it; we have to take it back,” she asserted. “The Republican Party does not own this country, nor does it possess the American flag. It belongs to the people.”
Democrats have long grappled with the perception of being less patriotic, and reversing that image is no small feat. Still, as Ryan aptly noted, “A crucial element of moving forward will involve military veterans who can help bridge the divide. This reaffirmation of a constructive, unifying patriotism is absolutely essential right now.”
