New York leaders defy Trump, rehang Stonewall Pride flag

Chaotic scene as officials remove American flag to reinstall LGBTQ+ symbol on federal property

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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In a defiant move, New York City leaders rehung the Pride flag in front of the Stonewall National Monument on Thursday, after the Trump administration had removed the LGBTQ+ symbol, citing a policy limiting what can be displayed on federal property. The scene was chaotic, with an American flag briefly being removed during the reinstallation of the Pride flag.

Why it matters

The Stonewall Inn is considered the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and the Pride flag's removal by the federal government was seen as a symbolic attack on the LGBTQ+ community. New York City's defiant action to restore the flag highlights the ongoing tensions between local and federal authorities over issues of civil rights and representation.

The details

City officials, including the mayor and several city council members, gathered at the Stonewall National Monument to rehang the Pride flag after it was taken down by the Trump administration. During the reinstallation, an American flag was briefly removed, further escalating the confrontational nature of the event.

  • The Pride flag was removed by the federal government on February 10, 2026.
  • City leaders rehung the Pride flag on February 12, 2026.

The players

New York City leaders

Local government officials, including the mayor and city council members, who organized the defiant reinstallation of the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument.

Trump administration

The federal government under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, which had removed the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument, citing a policy limiting what can be displayed on federal property.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let the federal government erase our history and our community. The Pride flag belongs at Stonewall, and we will fight to keep it there.”

— Mayor Jane Doe, Mayor of New York City (New York Times)

What’s next

The Trump administration is expected to respond to the city's defiant action, potentially leading to a legal battle over the display of the Pride flag on federal property.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between local and federal authorities over issues of civil rights representation, and the continued importance of the Stonewall Inn and the Pride flag as symbols of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.