As Brazil's conservative camp held large street protests to mark Independence Day, an oversized U.S. flag appeared this year, stirring controversy. The Stars and Stripes is increasingly taking shape as a symbol of Brazil's hard-right forces.
On the 9th (local time), the New York Times (NYT) reported that on the 7th, Brazil's Independence Day, a U.S. flag the size of a basketball court (465㎡, about 140 pyeong) was unfurled on an avenue in São Paulo. Images of thousands of protesters clad in Brazil's national colors of yellow and green holding up the massive flag spread across social media (SNS) in an instant, and a photo even ran on the front page of the local major daily O Estado de S. Paulo.
The protesters say the Stars and Stripes is a token of thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump. Earlier, after former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was indicted on charges of plotting a coup, President Trump waded into the case, pressing for his release by saying, "Stop the witch hunt against Bolsonaro," and imposing a 50% tariff on Brazilian products. The strongly hard-right former president Bolsonaro is called "Brazil's Trump."
On this, the NYT analyzed that a global trend has emerged recently in which the Stars and Stripes is becoming a symbol of hard-line conservative forces. For example, in Israel, after Trump returned to power, support for the Gaza war intensified, and a fad spread among conservatives to hang the U.S. flag in windows or wear kippahs in the flag's colors. Meanwhile, in Korea, the Stars and Stripes appeared at last year's protests over alleged election fraud, producing scenes of protesters waving the flag and shouting the phrase "Stop the Steal."
Brazil's conservative forces are particularly active in using the Stars and Stripes. On this Independence Day as well, protesters across the country were seen draping themselves in the U.S. flag, painting their faces red, white and blue, and waving a modified banner that fused the Brazilian flag with the Stars and Stripes. Israeli flags were also sold on site, aligning with the trend of Brazil's conservative and Christian blocs supporting Israel. In contrast, at protests led by progressives, Palestinian flags and communist symbols appeared, forming a stark contrast.
The appearance of the gigantic U.S. flag sent ripples through politics. Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Chamber of Deputies member and son of former President Bolsonaro, posted on SNS, "We are a people who know how to thank those who helped us in the war to reclaim freedom and democracy," expressing thanks to President Trump.
By contrast, two lawmakers from the left-wing camp pushed back, claiming the flag was identical to the one used at a National Football League (NFL) game held in São Paulo and suggesting it may have violated Brazilian laws banning foreign political interference. They reportedly asked police to analyze photos of the flag and question NFL officials.
The NFL immediately pushed back. Brian McCarthy, the NFL Spokesperson, said, "Politicians' claims are not true," and emphasized, "The flag used at the game is currently stored at the league supplier's warehouse and is unrelated to the protests."