Not every day a lapel pin makes headlines, but this one turned heads for all the wrong reasons.
Brendan Carr, a top official in the Federal Communications Commission under President Donald Trump, recently stirred up a storm online after he posted a photo of him wearing a gold pin shaped like Trump’s head.
The image, taken at the U.S. House of Representatives, shows Carr in a suit standing beneath the official House seal, with the pin placed exactly where many government officials typically wear the American flag.
Carr didn’t just wear it once. He has proudly shown off the pin in multiple posts on X (formerly Twitter), embracing what many call a bold display of loyalty. The symbolism didn’t go unnoticed. Social media erupted, with users pointing out that replacing the American flag with a likeness of a political figure leans into authoritarian imagery.
Online Reaction Sparks Cult Comparisons
The pin he was wearing.
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Critics didn’t hold back.
Always great to visit with Chairman @RepBuddyCarter and discuss the important work we’re getting done at the @FCC pic.twitter.com/K4gck0CLZE
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) April 3, 2025
“Some real pick me energy with your big shiny Trump pin.” one user asked bluntly in a now-viral comment.
Some real pick me energy with your big shiny Trump pin. If you’re real good he might take you golfing. Pathetic.
— Finnegan’s Wake (@d_fineagan) April 11, 2025
Others echoed that sentiment, with one user writing, “Disgusting idiot，you have no integrity，why not pin that damn badge on your forehead”
Disgusting idiot，you have no integrity，why not pin that damn badge on your forehead？
— 破六韩拔陵🇺🇦 (@tellurium88) April 5, 2025
Another remarking, “How insane is it to wear a Trump pin like you’re his fan club president? Are you 12? Are you ethically challenged?”
How insane is it to wear a Trump pin like you're his fan club president? Are you 12? Are you ethically challenged?
— Robots in Kashmir (@blackholetalos) April 8, 2025
The backlash brought up historical comparisons that made people even more uneasy. Many pointed to past authoritarian regimes where leaders encouraged or required the public display of loyalty symbols. In North Korea, for instance, officials frequently wear face pins of leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-un. During his rule, Mao Zedong popularized a nearly identical face pin that many people wore.
The White House responded to speculation that the Donald Trump-era administration may have encouraged the use of the Trump pin. In a statement to Yahoo News, an unnamed official said, “Obviously, we did not order officials to wear this pin. If they choose to wear one, it is to show support for the greatest President in history.”
That explanation did little to calm the storm online. The pin has since become a symbol of division- seen by supporters as a badge of honor and by critics as a warning sign. While Carr hasn’t publicly addressed the uproar, the message many see in the gold Trump-head pin is already loud enough.
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