Alternative Flags: Mike Pence trolled for confusing Nicaraguan and Israeli flags
Mike Pence’s support for Israel at the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas on Friday night backfired spectacularly, when a staffer posted numerous tweets from the Vice President’s official account with the Nicaraguan flag instead of the Israeli one.
Someone please tell the Pence social media team that's the flag of Nicaragua, not Israel pic.twitter.com/6KpfsCOCV6
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 25, 2017
“Under @POTUS Trump, we will stand with Israel,” one tweet read. “Our support for the Jewish people doesn’t end at our nation’s border,” said another
Mike Pence uses the Nicaraguan flag to tweet support of Israel. pic.twitter.com/jrojl1wM21
— Jason Rosenberg (@mynameisjro) February 25, 2017
Both the Israeli and Nicaraguan flags have two horizontal blue lines, but the Israeli lines are darker and thinner than those on the Nicaraguan flag.
The Israeli flag also has a large Star of David in the middle, while Nicaragua has a triangle featuring volcanoes, a sun, and a rainbow on its flag.
@BraddJaffy if only there was some obvious Jewish symbol on the flag to help differentiate it from the others...
— Maytal (@maytalism) February 25, 2017
@BraddJaffy@lilyallen Just a shameful embarrassment. pic.twitter.com/aDBUvVLPEi
— Ari Gold (@Femme_Lethal009) February 25, 2017
The blundering tweets were swiftly erased after news of the faux pas spread, but not before many screenshots were taken to capture the embarrassment for eternity.
We are so firmly behind Israel that we use the Nicaraguan flag instead of the Israel one. https://t.co/NFkiqShQom
— jaime saragozano (@SteinMichel) February 25, 2017
The @VP account deleted the tweets with the Nicaraguan flag that is not the Israeli flag, but nothing goes away on the internet pic.twitter.com/xszwFHEbAH
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) February 25, 2017
People were quick to make fun of Pence and the Trump administration, drawing on past gaffes.
Many took a swipe at Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, whose appointment was criticized due to her lack of experience. While some attempted to defend the VP, claiming the two flags were very similar and it was an easy mistake to make, not everyone agreed.
@mynameisjro@BroderickGreer almost as inspiring as the time he denoted the work of Lincoln to recognize the start of #BlackHistoryMonth
— DeacWon'tGiveUp✊🏼 (@deacon_godsey) February 25, 2017
@BraddJaffy Not the sharpest tools in the box, are they? They may have to invent a Nicaragua crisis to cover their error.
— Si Dunn (@grumblecore) February 25, 2017
Betsy Devos must've taught Mike Pence about geography bc that's definitely the flag for Nicaragua, not Israel. pic.twitter.com/gKvAyXyKHN
— nañi (@pettyblackgirI) February 25, 2017
@BraddJaffy@KFILE In fairness they look pretty similar if emojis show up very small on one's phone
— sevenlayercake (@sevenlayercake) February 25, 2017
@sevenlayercake I mean, no. Not really at all: 🇳🇮🇮🇱
— Marissa Fugate (@MarissaFugate) February 25, 2017
Many used the blunder as an excuse to make jokes about Israel and its controversial domestic policy. “Even the VP doesn’t believe Israel exists,” one said.
I'm confused, @VP. A two state solution makes sense, but why is Nicaragua involved? #Pence#Israel#Nicaragua#flaglivesmatterpic.twitter.com/d7iz8lcgeJ
— M🇺🇸M🇳🇱Y🌏 (@MichaelMarinus) February 25, 2017
First Palestine's land, now Nicaragua's flag?! What will Israel steal next?! pic.twitter.com/K7TN3scOTJ
— Kris Phillips (@13KP13) February 25, 2017
READ MORE: Israel denies visa for HRW researcher, citing ‘Palestinian propaganda’
However, other Twitter users speculated that the error had been an attempt by staff to embarrass Pence.
Some drew comparisons between an earlier flag-related blunder on Friday that saw Trump supporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference unwittingly waving Russian flags with Trump written on them.
@BraddJaffy If I have to guess, this could be Pence's own staff trolling him. I would like to believe someone did this on purpose. Kudos!
— Katica Ilic (@Katica_SFbay) February 25, 2017
@jbillinson@OnePissyChick@VP that's so bizarre. You have to type Nicaragua to get it. Possible his staff did it to embarrass him?
— PepperAnderson (@PickMeKitty36) February 25, 2017
@BraddJaffy Not a good day for Republicans and flags.
— Sam Cohen (@cohenss) February 25, 2017
Our @WhiteHouse -- @VP tweets props to Israel using Nicaraguan flag emoji on same day #CPAC2017 greets @POTUS while waving Russian flags. https://t.co/GC9Es0aXUk
— Col. Morris Davis (@ColMorrisDavis) February 25, 2017
READ MORE: False flags: 'Russian Trump pennants' prank at CPAC causes social media meltdown