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yesterday

White House Denies Flag Touched Ground in Viral South Lawn Photo

Fact-checkers verify the image as authentic, but available visuals do not establish whether the flag made contact with the ground.

US President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House upon his return to Washington, DC, on November 16, 2025. Trump is returning to the White House after spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida, residence. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House upon his return to Washington, DC, on November 16, 2025.
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Overview

  • An AFP/Getty photo by Mandel Ngan taken Nov. 16 shows President Trump returning to the White House with the South Lawn flag appearing at ground level near its pole.
  • White House spokesman Davis Ingle said the flag never touched the ground and was lowered into a special container because of high winds during the Marine One landing.
  • Snopes and Lead Stories authenticated the photograph’s provenance and reported that current angles and footage do not conclusively show ground contact.
  • Title 4 of the U.S. Flag Code says the flag should not touch anything beneath it, and Snopes noted a container beneath the flag could still conflict with that guidance.
  • Reporters say the White House has not provided a detailed timeline or documentation of the handling, and no official investigation has been announced.