Pentagon Flag Day post sparks backlash over Russian flag resemblance

"Let’s honor our nation’s emblem and the stars and stripes that unite us all," the Pentagon’s post on X (formerly Twitter) read. "As we raise our flag and reflect on the values it represents, we celebrate the freedom, courage, and resilience that make our country great."

But users quickly pointed out a detail in the post’s infographic: two horizontal emblems at the bottom bore an uncanny resemblance to the Russian tricolor.

"Why did the U.S. Department of Defense put two Russian flags on their Flag Day graphic? Please explain," one user commented.

The confusion likely stems from a design quirk. The image appears to feature two white and red stripes on a blue background, with spacing between them. That gap, when viewed against the blue background, mimics the layout of the Russian flag: white on top, then blue, then red.

Users began posting memes in response to the apparent mishap, mocking the Pentagon's oversight.

The incident comes just days after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised eyebrows by issuing an official Russia Day greeting to the citizens of the aggressor country, emphasizing Washington’s desire to build constructive ties with Moscow.

"On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Russia on Russia Day," the statement read. "The United States remains committed to supporting the Russian people in their pursuit of a brighter future. We also take this opportunity to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to constructive engagement with the Russian Federation to achieve lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine."