Schumer Moves to Elevate Pride Flag to Congressional Symbol After Clash With President Trump

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Sunday that he will introduce federal legislation to make the Pride flag a congressionally authorized symbol, escalating a political showdown with President Trump over what can be displayed on federal property.

Schumer made the announcement on X, accusing President Trump of targeting not just the LGBTQ community, but all New Yorkers who care about pride and equality. He tied the proposal directly to the administration’s decision to remove the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument earlier this month. Schumer stood alongside New York State Rep. Tony Simone and New York State Sen. Erik Bottcher in promoting the effort.

The dispute began after the Department of the Interior issued a memo directing national parks to remove what it described as non agency flags from federal sites. As part of that order, the Pride flag was taken down from outside the Stonewall Inn, which sits within the federally designated monument area in New York City.

According to reports, Schumer’s proposed legislation would grant the Pride flag congressional recognition similar to symbols such as the U.S. flag, military service flags, and the POW MIA flag. Supporters argue the designation would formally protect the flag at federal sites, while opponents say it would expand political symbolism on government property.

The Pride flag was later reinstalled outside the Stonewall Inn following backlash, though the broader federal policy limiting non government flags remains in place. The Trump administration has maintained that the directive is about enforcing uniform standards across national parks, not targeting any specific group.