Displaying a swastika will reportedly now not be explicitly banned within the U.S. Coast Guard, after the Trump administration modified its coverage to say that the picture utilized by Nazis and white supremacists just isn’t categorized as a “hate symbol” however fairly as a “potentially divisive” mark.
It additionally reportedly eliminated nooses—an emblem of hate in opposition to Black People—from its checklist of hate symbols, in accordance with the Washington Put up’s report, which the Division of Homeland Safety denied.
Performing Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday
“This is an absolute ludicrous lie and unequivocally false,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin wrote on X. “The [Post] should be embarrassed it published this fake crap.”
The Coast Guard additionally denied the report.
“The claims that the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols are categorically false. These symbols have been and remain prohibited in the Coast Guard per policy,” performing Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday mentioned in a press release to The Hill.
Nonetheless, the Put up’s report was primarily based on paperwork obtained and confirmed by a Coast Guard official who noticed the coverage change firsthand.
“We don’t deserve the trust of the nation if we’re unclear about the divisiveness of swastikas,” they mentioned.
When the Washington Put up first reached out to the Coast Guard, it didn’t deny the coverage change however fairly referred the publication to DHS, which oversees the Coast Guard. DHS didn’t reply to the Put up’s request for remark earlier than the story was printed.
After all, it’s onerous to consider something McLaughlin or anybody within the Trump administration says, as they’ve proven over and over their willingness to lie.
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What’s extra, the Trump administration has made equally vile adjustments to insurance policies as a part of its struggle on Range, Fairness, and Inclusion initiatives, which Trump has crusaded in opposition to since retaking workplace.
Trump’s anti-DEI campaign has led the federal authorities to whitewash historical past and erase details about trailblazing Black individuals, Native People, and ladies who made important accomplishments to assist the army—regardless of the discrimination they confronted.
However no matter DEI initiatives, it is onerous to argue that swastikas and nooses aren’t symbols of hate. And Democrats wasted no time denouncing the brand new coverage.
“If a swastika or a noose isn’t a symbol of hate, what on earth is?” Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin wrote on X.
And Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois wrote, “I am unable to consider we even must say this, however swastikas, nooses, and different hate emblems aren’t ‘probably divisive.’ They’re symbols of terror and will proceed to be banned by our troops.”
Reclassifying swastikas as “potentially divisive” rather than explicitly as hate symbols is unlikely to help the Trump administration beat back its “Nazi problem.” In current weeks, two Trump administration nominees needed to withdraw after experiences uncovered their previous racist feedback.
GOP Rep. Dave Taylor of Ohio, who had a swastika noticed in his workplace in October.
Paul Ingrassia, whom Trump chosen in Could to go the Workplace of Particular Counsel, withdrew his nomination after experiences revealed that he despatched vile textual content messages in 2024 by which he described himself as having a “Nazi streak,” amongst different racist feedback.
And in September, Trump withdrew his nominee to steer the Bureau of Labor Statistics, E.J. Antoni, after GOP senators refused to substantiate him. Antoni had an enormous picture of a Nazi warship in his workplace, which he mentioned was “hard not to love.”
Politico additionally obtained a textual content thread in October between Younger Republican leaders who mentioned sending individuals to gasoline chambers and loving for Hitler. That very same month, a swastika was noticed within the workplace of a GOP Rep. Dave Taylor of Ohio.
Even right-wing lunatic Laura Loomer—who has satisfied Trump to purge his administration of anybody she deems as insufficiently loyal—admitted that Republicans have a Nazi downside.
“I’m going to say it. The GOP has a Nazi problem. And the more we pretend like we don’t, the worse it’s going to get,” she wrote on X. “We do. Don’t tell me we don’t.”
Absolutely eradicating swastikas from a listing of hate symbols will repair it.
