The Day the Smithsonian Flagged the Flag

Talk Show Host Asked to Put Away American Flag at Smithsonian While Wearing MAGA Hat

WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 2, 2025 — Talk show host and former presidential candidate Austin Petersen was asked by a security guard at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to put away a small American flag he was using to guide his Liberty Tour group—after the guard reportedly said, “Some people find it offensive.”

The incident occurred at approximately 1:00 PM on Friday, May 2, near the First Ladies exhibit inside the museum. 

Petersen had carried the handheld flag throughout the day to help his group stay together in the crowded space. It had been used calmly and respectfully, not in protest or disruption—just to help attendees visually locate him. The group had navigated much of the museum without issue before being stopped by one guard at the exhibit.

Tour attendee Quest Fanning, who was walking just behind Petersen, didn’t hear the guard’s initial comment but witnessed the exchange that followed.

“I saw Austin lower the flag and ask the guard for clarification,” Fanning said. “He asked, ‘You said I’m not allowed to wave the flag?’ Then he asked if it was that specific flag or any flag. The guard responded, ‘Some people find it offensive.’ Austin just nodded and put the flag away. No argument. Just respectful compliance.”

Amy Jo Easley, another member of the tour, confirmed the group had followed the flag for most of the visit without issue and believed the guard may have misunderstood a policy intended for large banners or demonstrations.

“We weren’t waving flags to make a statement—it was just a way to stay together,” Easley said. “Austin wasn’t being provocative. He was respectful the whole time and complied without fuss.”

Petersen, who was wearing a MAGA hat during the encounter, believes the political optics may have influenced the situation more than the flag itself.

“If I’d been wearing anything else, I doubt this would’ve happened,” Petersen said. “The flag wasn’t offensive—the hat was.”

A photo Petersen later posted on social media—taken after the incident to provide context—has since gone viral. It shows the exact flag used during the tour:
https://x.com/AP4Liberty/status/1918347087650906164

The moment has sparked national discussion about patriotism, political expression, and whether even the American flag is still welcome in institutions funded to preserve its legacy.

“When the American flag is treated like a threat inside the Museum of American History,” Petersen said, “we’ve crossed a cultural line that every American—left or right—should be concerned about.”

Petersen’s Liberty Tour, organized through his 4Liberty Network, brought citizens from across the country to Washington, D.C., for immersive historical education focused on liberty, constitutional principles, and civic engagement.