It appears Newsweek has discovered the U.S. Flag Code!
The outlet, intent on manufacturing a controversy, published a story about the patriotic outfits designed for the UFC’s Octagon Girls ahead of the upcoming White House fight celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
“Do Ring Girls’ Outfits for Trump UFC Fight Breach the Flag Code?” Alice Gibbs wrote. Gibbs amplified claims from unnamed “critics arguing the patriotic designs may clash with longstanding U.S. flag etiquette.”
“While organizers say the designs aim to blend ‘sport, spectacle, and celebration,’ the reveal has triggered criticism from some viewers who say the execution is overly flashy — or disrespectful.”
Notably, Gibbs doesn’t name a single “critic” who supposedly found the outfits “disrespectful.”
Nonetheless, in order to peddle the claim that such outfits are “disrespectful,” Gibbs dedicated an entire section to “What the US Flag Code Actually Says.”
“The code states that the flag ‘should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery.’ It also says no part of the flag ‘should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform,'” Gibbs wrote, clearly trying to generate controversy over whether the patriotic outfits are a sign of disrespect toward the flag.
Gibbs tried to hide the obvious hit job by being sure to note the flag code is “not legally enforceable for private citizens,” and that the “opinion is split” on the outfits. But she then segued into a general criticism of the UFC fight — revealing that her focus on the alleged flag code controversy was really just a vehicle to attack a Trump-backed event.
The outlet’s sudden interest in the U.S. Flag Code presents a stark contrast to how Newsweek previously covered actual disrespect toward the flag.
The same flag code Gibbs cited also states that “no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America.”
Setting the American flag on fire in protest is considerably more “disrespectful” than wearing a sequined red, white, and blue outfit celebrating America’s greatness. Yet amazingly, when Newsweek covered flag burning, its supposed interest in flag code was nowhere to be found.
In a 2025 newsletter by Newsweek defending flag burning, Isaac Saul acknowledged that many Americans find the practice offensive, while still suggesting it should be protected as “free speech.”
“When I see someone desecrating the flag, my emotional, knee-jerk reaction is that I would feel perfectly alright if that person gets punished for it,” Saul wrote. “But whether you abhor flag burning or not is a separate question from whether or not it should be protected speech.”
The article then talked about the Supreme Court’s highly questionable decision in Texas v. Johnson, which held flag burning is protected speech under the First Amendment.
No mention of flag code or its prohibition against disrespecting the American flag was found in the piece. Instead, Saul argued the issue is “about maintaining a bright red line between how I’m allowed to express my thoughts and the government’s authority to restrict my liberty. Remember: the majoritarian instinct to squash the kinds of political expression you don’t like will always come back around — especially when you attempt to codify it into law.”
The angle was clear: Trump is a “majoritarian” who wants to “squash” free speech.
A year before that, Anezka Pichrtova headlined a piece: “Donald Trump Backs ‘Unconstitutional’ Punishment for Burning American Flags.” Like Saul, Pichrtova emphasized the Supreme Court’s decision in Texas v. Johnson while conveniently leaving out flag code and its prohibition on disrespect.
While activists burn the American flag, Newsweek frames the story about constitutional rights and so-called protected expression. Yet when patriotic costumes appear at a Trump-involved event celebrating the founding, Newsweek is suddenly concerned about whether Trump is disrespecting and violating flag code. Apparently, flag code is only relevant when it can be used to cudgel Trump.
