This is the propaganda move in its purest form:
“If you hate this, you aren’t American.”
Not: here is why this is good.
Not: here is why the symbolism is appropriate.
Not: here is why the White House should be used this way.
Just a loyalty test.
The image is emotionally overwhelming by design: White House, flag, flyover, cage, crowd, lights.
Then the frame is imposed:
Love the spectacle, or you hate the country.
That is not patriotism.
That is conditional citizenship.
And it is especially revealing coming from the National Conservatism world, because this is exactly their project: redefine “real America” around hierarchy, spectacle, masculinity, nationalism, and loyalty to power.
I can love America and still object to the White House being turned into ad inventory for a politically connected combat-sports empire.
The country is not the spectacle.
The republic is not the cage.
The flag is not a brand asset.
Do better
@willchamberlain
If you hate this you aren’t American.