Trump administration flies Christian Nationalist flag over U.S. federal agency headquarters
The headquarters of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Washington, D.C., recently flew the Appeal to Heaven flag, a flag associated with theNew Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a movement that urgesChristians to overtake the U.S. government. The NAR movement largely supports the Trump administration.In a June 11 post on her X account, SBA administrator Kelly Loeffler posted an image of the flag on her X account, writing, Today at SBAs Flag Day Ceremony, we proudly raised a new AMERICAN MADE flag over our headquarters in Washington It is a privilege to serve under its Stars and Stripes on behalf of the 34 million small businesses who represent the best of America. One of the posts images showed the Appeal to Heaven flag flying under a U.S. flag. Related Christian Nationalists dream of taking over America. This movement is actually doing it. The New Apostolic Reformation is the greatest threat to US democracy youve never heard of. Flag Day is meant to honor the U.S. flag, and Republicans across the U.S. have been banning any flag from flying at government buildings other than the U.S. flag in an effort to stop the Pride flag from being flown. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today George Washington University extremism researcher Jon Lewis told Wired magazine, The contemporary usage of the Appeal to Heaven flag is synonymous with Christian nationalism, full stop. That the Appeal to Heaven flag is being flown on a government building alongside the American flag should be shocking to anyone who doesnt wish to live in a theocracy. Today at SBAs Flag Day Ceremony, we proudly raised a new AMERICAN MADE flag over our headquarters in Washington.It is a privilege to serve under its Stars and Stripes on behalf of the 34 million small businesses who represent the best of America. pic.twitter.com/QmSrSh6mu4 Kelly Loeffler (@SBA_Kelly) June 11, 2025Wait, whats the history of the Appeal to Heaven flag anyway?The flag was first commissioned in 1775 by then-Commander-in-Chief George Washington. It flew on two U.S. sailing barges and a squadron of six schooners during the start of the American Revolutionary War against the British monarchy.At that time, the flags pine tree icon had become a New England symbol of American colonial resistance against British royal powers. The flags phrase, An Appeal to Heaven, came from political philosopher John Lockes 1698 work, Second Treatise on Government. Locke said that people who could find no appeal on Earth against oppressive rulers can instead make an appeal to heaven by using their God-given right to revolt.In 2015, the flag gained popularity through the Appeal to Heaven national tour of NAR movement pastor Dutch Sheets. During his tour, Sheets repeatedly linked the flag to the American Revolution and concepts of Christian nationalism, CNN reported. During a tour stop in Ohio, Sheets spoke against the Supreme Courts then-recent decision legalizing same-sex marriage and the courts ongoing abortion cases, saying, Its not settled law until God says its settled law If we appeal to heaven, he can turn this thing around.Followers of the NAR movement largely support President Donald Trump and his administrations Christian Nationalist goals. An October 2024 Mother Jones article described the NAR movement as: a charismatic evangelical Christian movement led by a loose network of self-appointed prophets and apostles, who claim that God speaks directly to them, often in dreams. They believe that Christians are called to wage a spiritual battle for control of the United States. In the vanguard of an ascendant Christian nationalist movement, they are seeking an explicitly Christian command of public schools, social policy, and all levels of the government, including the courts. Some scholars claim NAR is the fastest-growing spiritual movement in the United States. Its laser focus on starting a spiritual war to Christianize America has led the Southern Poverty Law Center to call NAR the greatest threat to US democracy that you have never heard of. Notably, the Appeal to Heaven flag was infamously seen at the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riots (which was led by supporters of President Donald Trump), and outside the home of anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in 2024.This flag is part of a broader effort by the far right to recall the principles of the American Revolution and import them into antidemocratic efforts, said Jemar Tisby, a Simmons College professor who studies Christian nationalism, to CNN. He said right-wing groups who fly the flag see themselves as involved in a righteous rebellion against an unjust, intrusive government.The Appeal to Heaven flag is also a symbol of White Christian nationalism, because it links their cause to Gods will as an appeal to heaven or a higher power, he added. That way, the movement appears to transcend political earthly authority, and becomes a divine right. So why is Kelly Loeffler flying the Appeal to Heaven flag over the SBA?Loeffler is a Christian who may agree with the NAR movements political agenda. While briefly serving as Georgias U.S. senator, she donated part of her salary to anti-abortion pregnancy centers and an anti-LGBTQ+ adoption agency, Buzzfeed reported.Its worth noting that Loeffler also recently appeared on a livestream video broadcast of The Benny Show, hosted by right-wing commentator Benny Johnson.In a recent episode, Johnson suggested that Vance Boelters recent assassination of pro-LGBTQ+ Minnesota Democrat Melissa Hortman was actually a false flag op organized by the U.S. government. Johnson and the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr., then repeated the right-wing lie that Boelter was a left-winger. However, Boelters roommate and self-described best friend, David Carlson, said that Boelter was a strong Trump supporter. The publication Mother Jones also noted that Boelterattended the Christ for the Nations Institute (CFNI), a Dallas, Texas-based Bible college whose alumni include aforementioned NAR pastor Dutch Sheets.In a statement, the CFNI Public Relations Department said, We are absolutely aghast and horrified that a CFNI alumnus is [Hortmans murder] suspect. This is not who we are. This is not what we teach.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
