In the aftermath of riots that rocked Los Angeles — and drew national outrage after images emerged of rioters waving Mexican flags in the streets — the mainstream media has rushed into damage control mode, attempting to reframe what many Americans saw as a deeply unpatriotic moment.
Rather than asking tough questions about why violent demonstrators would choose to fly a foreign flag while attacking U.S. law enforcement and torching police vehicles, outlets like Politico and The New York Times have instead offered up sympathetic narratives. Their angle? It’s all about “heritage,” “diversity,” and “support for immigrant parents.”
Politico leaned on activist Angelica Salas, who insisted that flying the Mexican flag during unrest is a “long tradition” during times of “anti-immigrant sentiment.” According to Salas, the flags are meant to signal solidarity with undocumented parents by their U.S.-born children — not a rejection of America.
Meanwhile, the New York Times featured quotes from protestors who described waving the flags as a tribute to “diversity” and “roots.” One protestor, Bonnie Garcia, said she was “proud to be American,” but opted for Guatemalan and Mexican flags because “being Californian is what makes me proud.”
In short, the media narrative is this: it’s not ungrateful, it’s expressive; it’s not divisive, it’s cultural; it’s not anti-American, it’s misunderstood.
Here’s what’s being left out: a majority of Americans support President Trump’s federal intervention in Los Angeles, including his decision to deploy National Guard troops and take control of the California Guard.
In fact, recent polling shows a clear disconnect between media framing and public opinion. Americans are watching their cities burn — and they’re not moved by poetic talk about “hybrid flags” and “generational pride.”
When people see rioters waving foreign flags while smashing windows and assaulting officers, the optics speak louder than any think-piece. For average voters, the image of the Mexican flag rising amid chaos doesn’t say “diversity” — it says defiance, division, and a rejection of American unity.
And here’s the kicker: Democrats are largely silent, or worse, excusing the behavior. When asked about the violence, Senator Chuck Schumer walked away in silence. Other party leaders have dismissed the riots as “mostly peaceful.” This isn’t leadership — it’s cowardice in the face of cultural flashpoints that real Americans care about.
