Why Is The American Flag Flying Upside Down At The Capitol?

A strange happening occurred at the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, several photos showing the American flag upside at the Capitol went viral on Twitter.

The flag garnered so much attention because traditionally if the American flag is upside down then it symbolizes “dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

Take a look:

🚨Just in: The American Flag is flying upside down at the top of the US Senate on the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC. According to the U.S. Flag Code, flying the American flag upside down is only meant to be done "as a signal of distress in instances of extreme danger to life or… pic.twitter.com/B45lIAZ3Dj

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) May 16, 2023

🚨#BREAKING: U.S. Flag at Top of Senate on U.S. Capitol Flies Upside Down

📌#Washington l #DC

Currently photos shows the U.S. American flag appears to be flying upside down at the top of the senate on the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC. According to the U.S. Flag Code, flying… pic.twitter.com/tzOCJShvvd

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 16, 2023

Here’s what IJR reported:

The symbol of distress appeared Tuesday outside the U.S. Capitol, with some calling it an apt image of the state of the nation.

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A social media flurry took place Tuesday after images circulated of the flag flying upside down outside the U.S. Capitol.

The U.S. flag appears to be flying upside down atop the senate, per a source. pic.twitter.com/LvKoeu1xvd

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) May 16, 2023

NEW: US flag currently flying upside down over Senate building signaling distress and needing rescue

Some believe it was flipped after Sen. Fetterman spoke with the sophistication of a drunk toddler in a hearing today pic.twitter.com/PpatypZwgL

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) May 16, 2023

After flying upside down for some time, the flag was fixed back upright in its normal position.

🚨#UPDATE: The us American flag is no longer upside down as a staff member from the us capital has fixed the flag pic.twitter.com/alqCWrZcnR

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 16, 2023

Here’s what US Flag Code has to say about an American flag flying upside down:

No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.