Among the many reasons Donald Trump was reelected was that Americans were sick and tired of leftist agendas being pushed down their throats. But as President Trump attempts to stop goofy liberal ideas from being forced on Americans, there are plenty of blue cities in red states that view themselves as the "resistance" to the Trump agenda. One such place is Salt Lake City, Utah. You would think that with serious issues like the economy and crime that most large cities currently deal with, they wouldn't have time for things like city flags or banners. Think again.
Utah and Idaho passed state laws that bar the flying of unofficial flags on schools and government buildings.
— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) May 7, 2025
So Salt Lake City and Boise just approved new pride flags to get around the ban.
Capitol cities going against the will of their states is BS.
Full article in reply. pic.twitter.com/g99ZvZrO9j
Salt Lake City Democrat Mayor Erin Mendenhall had one such serious issue on her plate at Tuesday night's City Council meeting, while presenting a city budget proposal. But Her Honor also had one other meeting agenda item. Hours before a state ban on Pride flags took effect, the Council also added one more item, a discussion to allow new city banners. The result: three new city banners were adopted--the Pride flag, the transgender flag, and a Juneteenth flag, all of which also display the white sego lily that appears on the current city flag. By making them all official city flags, the city could bypass the state ban. The city has a majority of members on the City Council who are LGBTQ. As you might guess, it was a unanimous vote to adopt the flags as official city flags.
Mendenhall said of the new city flags,
“As mayor, I have a duty to lawfully uphold the values of our nation, state and our city. I know that the values of diversity, equity and inclusion are not only right and just, but they are fundamental to America, even through all its struggles to uphold them.”
Earlier in 2025, the Utah Legislature passed HB77, which restricts the kinds of flags that can be flown in front of schools and government buildings. The list of flags permitted includes the American flag, state and military flags, the Olympic flag, college or university flags, and local city flags. Gov. Spencer Cox (R) did not sign the bill; therefore, banning Pride and other flags like it from being flown in front of public buildings, which goes into effect Wednesday.
Republican members of the State Legislature voiced their opposition to the new flags. House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, called it “a clear waste of time and taxpayer resources.” He added, “This law is about keeping government spaces neutral and welcoming to all. Salt Lake City should focus on real issues, not political theatrics." Utah Senate President Stuart Adams said:
“It’s disappointing that Salt Lake City is diverting time and resources away from real pressing community needs in an attempt to bypass state law. The intent of this bill is to help ensure that government buildings remain neutral, focused on serving the public and welcoming to all.”
In a move possibly to send a message to the Mayor and City Council that everyone can play the game, State Sen. Dan McKay, R-Riverton, who sponsored HB77, created a collection of flags of his own. One had a symbol of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an Israeli flag, and one that said, "MAGA Country."
He posted on X, “Proud of Erin for being so inclusive with the new 365.25 flag initiative." State Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, who sponsored HB77 in the Utah House, also posted on X, “Does Salt Lake City really want to play these games? Good luck!”
BREAKING: 🚨 Salt Lake City, Utah makes LGBTQ flags official city flags to evade flag banning at gov buildings.
— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) May 7, 2025
Read that a few times!
This may be a trend for cities that are blue dots in red states. Idaho also passed a Pride flag ban in April, and the city of Boise voted to adopt the Pride flag as its official city flag on Tuesday.
SLC Mayor Mendenhall stated that she had given the move "so much thought." Maybe that's the problem. Surely, her city has many of the problems that most large cities are grappling with. Shouldn't she be focused on those? But, as with most big-city liberals, virtue signaling is more important than solving actual problems.
If inclusivity is really the goal of the mayor, then we can plan on her adopting and flying the "MAGA Country" flag, right?
BREAKING: Salt Lake City makes LGBTQ flags official city flags in order to evade Utah's flag banning at gov buildings pic.twitter.com/yVTypb9wph
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 7, 2025
Join the conversation as a VIP Member