Legacy media outlets expressed disdain over Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito flying an “Appeal to Heaven” flag outside of his vacation home last summer, attempting to link the Revolutionary War symbol to the January 6 protests at the United States Capitol.
Investigative reporters for The New York Times learned last week that Alito had flown the flag at his property in New Jersey, claiming that the symbol “fell into obscurity until recent years and is now a symbol of support” for former President Donald Trump, movements to question the results of the 2020 election, and a “push to remake American government in Christian terms.”
Photographs obtained by the news outlet and interviews with half a dozen neighbors confirmed that the Alito family displayed the “provocative flag” throughout the summer of 2023. The critical report from The New York Times came after an upside-down American flag was revealed to have been photographed outside of the Alito residence in Virginia.
Reporters claimed the inverted flag was also linked to the January 6 protests, but Alito said the flag was raised by his wife in response to a disagreement with neighbors.
The “Appeal to Heaven” flag, otherwise known as the “Pine Tree” flag, was flown by squadrons under the command of George Washington when he was commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. The pine tree emerged as a symbol of independence amid the American Revolution, while the slogan is a reference to philosopher John Locke, who wrote that people “deprived of their right” by their government can “appeal to heaven” when they “have no appeal on earth.”
Legacy news outlets nevertheless reported on the “Appeal to Heaven” flag by attempting to link the symbol to modern right-wing populism. One article from CNN asserted that the “controversial flag” has a “history dating to the Revolutionary War” but “has also become a symbol for supporters of former President Donald Trump.” Forbes also described the flag “controversial” and said the banner has “become a symbol for religious support” of Trump.
