Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito had an upside-down US flag outside his Virginia home just weeks after the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The flag was being used as a symbol of MAGA’s “Stop the Steal” agenda, associated with former President Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud. Alito, appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, claimed that his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, was responsible for flying the flag in response to a neighbor’s use of objectionable language on yard signs.
According to US code, the flag should never be displayed upside down except in instances of dire distress. Some MAGA supporters began displaying upside-down US flags to show support for Trump following the 2020 presidential election. Neighbors of Alito claimed that his wife was in a dispute with another family in the neighborhood over an anti-Trump sign on their lawn, interpreting the flag as a political statement supporting “Stop the Steal.” It is unclear if the flag was meant to signal support for Trump or how long it was flown for.
The photo of the flag outside Alito’s home was reportedly taken by alarmed neighbors on Jan. 17, 2021, but was recently obtained by The New York Times. The publication of the image raised questions about the intentions behind the flag and its potential political implications. The Supreme Court is currently considering two major cases related to the Jan. 6 attack, including whether Trump should have presidential immunity from prosecution and a case that could impact prosecutions for rioters.
The Supreme Court has not commented publicly on Alito’s flag-flying saga. The controversy surrounding the flag has sparked discussions about freedom of speech, political symbolism, and the role of public figures in expressing personal opinions. Alito’s association with the flag has raised concerns about the impartiality and political leanings of Supreme Court justices. As the discussions continue, the image of the flag outside Alito’s home serves as a reminder of the tensions and divisions in American society following the 2020 presidential election and the Capitol riot.
