Republicans pounce after Netanyahu protesters burn US flags — and wave Hamas ones instead

Republicans seized instantly connected images of burning U.S. flags and vandalism astatine Washington, D.C.'s Union Station pursuing Benjamin Netanyahu’s reside arsenic grounds of wide antisemitism and a harbinger of what tin hap nether Democratic power of government.

“Pro-terror, anti-Israel agitators are vandalizing national property, removing American flags, and replacing them pinch Palestinian flags steps distant from nan United States Capitol,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), a personnel of Senate GOP leadership, connected X. “This is inexcusable, and I expect them to beryllium prosecuted to nan fullest grade of nan law.”

“Hamas flags, slogans astir sidesplitting Jews, harassment of @CapitolPolice officers, vandalism, burnt American flags, & hanged effigies of PM Netanyahu. These are conscionable immoderate of nan appalling scenes astatine protests astir nan U.S. Capitol today,” wrote Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chair of nan Foreign Affairs Committee.

McCaul added: “This vitriolic behaviour goes beyond serene protests and free speech. It will only further incite violence. Our nation's leaders connected some sides of nan aisle must afloat denounce this ugly, pro-Hamas extremism and make clear that antisemitism has nary spot successful America.”

The U.S. Capitol Police said successful a connection that “no flags nether our protection person been removed aliases vandalized” though non-Capitol Police officers were seen making wide arrests adjacent Union Station aft nan speech.

Other GOP lawmakers tried to necktie nan protests and vandalism — without grounds — to Vice President Kamala Harris, nan apt Democratic nominee for president.

“The group Kamala Harris is courting pain nan American Flag,” wrote Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.). “Shame connected them.”

However, it wasn’t conscionable Republicans criticizing nan protesters.

“I ne'er imagined seeing nan emblem of a panic group holding 8 Americans hostage for 292 days waved successful nan streets of our nation’s Capitol,” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) wrote alongside an image of a protester waving nan Hamas flag.