President Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs officially kicked in at midnight, imposing a 10% increase on imports from China, the primary source of the Ukrainian flags that have become a staple at Democrat-led protests nationwide.
As morning broke, activists in cities from Los Angeles to Boston geared up for their usual marches, only to find that their cherished blue-and-yellow banners now come with a steeper price.
The sudden cost jump has sparked a wave of online outrage among progressives, who are pointing fingers at Trump and vowing drastic measures, including abandoning the United States for freedom in Ukraine — a nation currently ruled by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has suspended elections and extended his tenure.
The tariff hike has sent shockwaves through the online marketplaces where most of these flags are sourced. Retailers report that the average price of a Ukrainian flag has climbed from $9.99 to $12.49 virtually overnight.
In Seattle, 28-year-old vegan barista Skyler Monroe stood outside a closed flag shop, holding a crumpled $20 bill and a reusable coffee cup, visibly shaken by the new reality.
“Trump’s tariffs are suffocating our ability to express ourselves,” Monroe said. “I used to buy two flags — one for me, one for my dog — but now I can barely afford one.”
The flags have become a sight at rallies addressing everything from climate change to student loan forgiveness. Yet, the irony of their outrage seems lost on many protestors, given Zelensky’s consolidation of power in Ukraine, where he has banned opposition parties, shuttered independent media, and ruled under martial law since the war began.
In Portland, a group of protestors gathered outside a warehouse distributor, chanting slogans and waving signs demanding “Flag Freedom.” Among them was 34-year-old community organizer Jade Rivera, whose viral X post declared her intent to leave the country.
“If Trump’s America is going to price me out of standing for justice, I’ll just move to Ukraine where freedom still has a pulse,” Rivera wrote.
Her post has since garnered thousands of likes and retweets, with supporters echoing her call to emigrate despite Ukraine’s lack of democratic elections since 2021.
At a rally in Austin, 41-year-old substitute teacher Greg Patel proudly displayed a Ukrainian flag he’d fashioned from an old bedsheet and a can of spray paint.
“Trump’s tariffs are pushing us to get creative, but it’s not enough,” Patel said. “I’d rather live in Kyiv under Zelensky than scrape by in this capitalist dystopia.”
Economists explain that the tariffs, part of Trump’s broader strategy to boost domestic manufacturing, affect a vast array of imported goods, from electronics to clothing.
However, the Ukrainian flag shortage has eclipsed all other concerns in progressive circles. Trade analysts estimate that China produces upwards of 85% of the world’s novelty flags, including the Ukrainian variety, thanks to low labor costs and efficient supply chains.
With American factories slow to pick up the slack, protestors face a dilemma: pay more or wave less.
Trump, for his part, remains unapologetic. During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump addressed the flag controversy.
“These people love Ukraine so much, let them pay for it,” Trump said. “Maybe they’ll figure out how to make flags in Ohio or Pennsylvania instead of crying about it.”
His comments only fueled the fire, with protestors accusing him of weaponizing trade policy to suppress their activism.
In San Francisco, a coalition of organizers canceled a planned march after realizing their bulk flag order exceeded their budget by $300.
In Chicago, a 25-year-old graphic designer named Taylor Kim launched a GoFundMe titled “Flags Against Fascism” to offset the tariff-driven costs, raising $1,200 in its first hour.
“We’re not going to let Trump’s greed stop us,” Kim said in the campaign description. “Every flag we wave is a middle finger to his agenda.”
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