'Woefully lacking': Trump's 'performative patriotism' slammed as 'a lot of pageantry'

Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has touted "patriotism" and an "America First" agenda. But some analysts think his version of patriotism is "performative."

In an article published in MSNBC Wednesday, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Trump's "brand of patriotism is based primarily on performative things."

"Donald Trump and his allies love to lecture Americans about what it means to be patriotic. But it’s become pretty clear by now that their brand of patriotism is based primarily on performative things," Psaki, who served as the White House press secretary under the Biden administration, wrote in the article.

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She noted that despite other urgent matters of national importance, Republicans in the House moved forward with legislation aiming to formally change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

"Over at the White House, Trump has been busy redecorating, putting his personal touch on pretty much everything. He’s scouting the North Lawn and the South Lawn for a place to put two new flagpoles that he says will be nearly 100 feet tall. Trump told reporters that he was installing them because 'they’ve needed flagpoles for 200 years'," she said.

Psaki also mentioned the Trump administration's plan to have a military parade in Washington, D.C., on the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army in June, which also happens to be the president's birthday.

"Now, you might remember that Trump tried to hold a military parade during his first term, but those plans were curtailed over the cost and concern that military vehicles, like tanks, would damage the streets of D.C. Apparently, those are not considered problems this time around. According to defense officials familiar with the planning who spoke to NBC News, an early estimate puts the cost of Trump’s parade at as much as $45 million," Psaki notes.

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"It’s a lot of pageantry: Look at our newly labeled maps, our new giant flagpole, the tanks rolling down the streets. But what about the kind of patriotism that goes beyond the public displays? The kind of patriotism that demonstrates actual solidarity with your fellow Americans? Well, when you look for that kind of patriotism, Trump and the Republican leadership are woefully lacking," she wrote.

Trump's version of "patriotism" has faced criticism from a number of commentators.

Last year, marine veteran Jos Joseph wrote in an article published in The Hill that "Trump seems to truly believe that the sacrifices that Americans have made in battle are on the same level as the ones he has made in his business and political career."

"And that is something that no true patriot should accept," Joseph said.

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He added that this "performative patriot routine" will always appeal to certain people. "Slap a flag on a beer can, truck, t-shirt sleeve, bag of coffee or underwear and people will pay for it, regardless of its quality. And you really can’t blame them for this and Trump being the businessman that he is, taking advantage of that," Joseph added.

Click here to read Psaki's full essay on MSNBC.