Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) is moving to ban the display of foreign flags on Capitol grounds, introducing legislation that would ensure only the American flag is permitted inside Congress. The bill follows outrage over Ukrainian flags being prominently displayed during President Donald Trump’s address to lawmakers.
The legislation, titled the “Allegiance Act,” seeks to prevent taxpayer money from being used to purchase foreign flags and prohibits them from being flown in congressional chambers. Moreno, who immigrated to the U.S. legally from Colombia, has argued that lawmakers should focus on representing American citizens rather than promoting the interests of foreign nations.
I think it’s high time we start picking the pockets of all the members of government that got kickbacks from Ukraine, let’s roll the tape of them all waving their Ukrainian flags on the house floor. We could start there. And let’s be reminded that Thomas Massie got fined for… pic.twitter.com/2UpEpCBTGD
— schmoo (@schmooze1777) January 22, 2025
“When I became a citizen, I pledged allegiance to America and no other country,” Moreno said. “It is offensive to see elected officials waving foreign flags in our nation’s Capitol instead of standing for the country they were elected to serve.”
Moreno’s push to remove foreign flags comes after an intense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During the meeting, Zelensky lashed out at Trump and Vice President JD Vance, prompting Trump to eject him from the White House. The fallout led to the suspension of a minerals trade deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, along with the administration’s decision to cut off military aid.
Remember your representatives waving Ukrainian flags in Congress when Russia retaliates for US missile strikes that killed Russian kids on a beach in Crimea today. Joe Biden is provoking nuclear war with Russia. Are you ready to die for this demented fool? pic.twitter.com/5iLmOZZZWw
— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) June 23, 2024
Prior to Trump’s congressional address, Moreno handed out American flags to Republican colleagues as a response to Democrats displaying Ukrainian flags. The senator said the gesture was a reminder that Congress serves the American people, not foreign governments.
Moreno, who has been a vocal Trump supporter, has pledged to advance policies that align with the administration’s America First agenda.
