The US Coast Guard is facing intense political backlash after a Washington Post report claimed it plans to reclassify swastikas and nooses as “potentially divisive” rather than hate symbols under a policy set to take effect on December 15. However, the Coast Guard on Thursday firmly denied the report, calling the claims false.
“The claims that the US Coast Guard will no longer classify Swastikas, nooses or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols are categorically false,” Acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday said in a statement.
“These symbols have been and remain prohibited. Any display, use or promotion of such symbols will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished.”
The Department of Homeland Security issued a parallel denial. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin condemned the report as “an absolute ludicrous lie and unequivocally false,” adding on X, “The Washington Post should be embarrassed it published this fake crap.”
Even with these strong rejections, the Post’s reporting, also cited by Newsweek and mentioned by CNN, sparked widespread criticism online, given the swastika’s association with Nazism and the noose’s history as a symbol of racist violence in the United States.
The report further stated that the Confederate flag would be similarly downgraded, though its display would still be banned. According to the Washington Post report, which cited internal documents, the proposed change is linked to the Coast Guard’s efforts to align with the Trump administration’s review of military harassment and hazing regulations.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had earlier directed a revision of Pentagon standards he said had become overly broad and detrimental to readiness.
Supervisors would be required to investigate any reported displays, consult legal officials, and then determine whether removal was warranted. The update would also introduce a 45-day deadline for filing complaints.
How the Nazi “Hakenkreuz” differs from the Indian swastika
The swastika is an ancient symbol found in many cultures, and in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, it has long carried sacred and auspicious meaning. The Hindu swastika is typically drawn as a symmetrical cross with arms bent at right angles, pointing either clockwise or counterclockwise.
It is often decorated with dots or floral elements and represents concepts such as the sun, prosperity, and good fortune. It has been used for thousands of years in art, architecture, and religious symbolism. The Hindu swastika is not depicted in black, unlike the Nazi emblem.
The Nazi swastika, or “Hakenkreuz,” is a distinct and politicised version adopted by the Nazi Party in the 20th century. It is rotated 45 degrees, with arms pointing clockwise, and was used as the emblem of Adolf Hitler’s regime. The Nazi symbol is generally depicted in black on a white circle with a red background, a design created specifically to distinguish it from traditional versions of the swastika.
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