US Capitol police are investigating after an American flag altered to include a swastika was discovered inside the office of a Republican representative.
First reported by POLITICO, the symbol was spotted pinned to a board in Ohio GOP representative David Taylor’s office in the Cannon Building in Washington, DC, alongside a pocket copy of the Constitution and a congressional calendar.
It was noticed behind Angelo Elia, one of Taylor’s staffers, during a virtual meeting and an image was subsequently obtained.
The swastika is an ancient symbol which has been used by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains for thousands of years and means means “well-being” in Sanskrit. It was appropriated by the Nazis in the twentieth century and became a symbol of fascism and is still used by white supremacist groups to promote racial hatred.
“A vile and deeply inappropriate symbol”
“I am aware of an image that appears to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol near an employee in my office,” Taylor said in a statement.
“The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms.”
A friend in DC had a Zoom call with Congressman Dave Taylor’s office today…
Taylor’s legislative correspondent, Angelo Elia, had what can only be described as an American swastika flag prominently displayed in his background. pic.twitter.com/zFn3QowS0c
— The Rooster (@rooster_ohio) October 15, 2025
A spokesperson for Taylor described the symbol as “foul play or vandalism” and said the matter had been reported to authorities, who are investigating.
“Upon learning of this matter, I immediately directed a thorough investigation alongside Capitol Police, which remains ongoing. No further comment will be provided until it has been completed,” he added.
News of this symbol in an elected representative’s office comes just days after deeply racist messages between some leaders of Young Republican groups were leaked, also by POLITICO.
The exchanges, which took place on Telegram, included describing Black people as monkeys and “watermelon people” alongside racial, ableist and homophobic slurs, discussing putting political opponents in gas chambers and saying “I love Hitler”.
Following the outlet’s exposé, US vice president JD Vance appeared to brush off the unsettling messages.
“The reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys,” Vance said on a recent episode of Charlie Kirk’s podcast.
“They tell edgy, offensive jokes. That’s what kids do. And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke – telling a very offensive, stupid joke – is cause to ruin their lives.”
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