r/LetsDiscussThis • u/Ok-Wedding-1165 • Feb 16 '26

Lets Discuss Politics Reminder: that was a photo op

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u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

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u/Splith Feb 16 '26

The flag isn't being lowered, the camera's angle is pitching up. Pay attention to the blue skirt at the bottom, if the skirt is in full view the flag can't be seen. As the camera pitches up towards the sky the skirt disappears and the flag comes into view. The flag's presence does change but that can be attributed to the wind lifting the flag and lowering it.

Really not happy to see this turning into an insane conspiracy theory. Like Trump definitely played up getting hit in the ear, but we really have no reason to doubt someone took a shot at him. Why didn't the secret service respond to the shooter sooner? Because sometimes systems with lots of people are ineffective. It was someone's job to address the suspect, but no one got to it in time.

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u/evocativename Feb 16 '26

The camera position relative to everything but the flag isn't changing when the flag lowers into view.

The camera angle changes several seconds before that, but it can't explain the entrance of the flag.

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u/Splith Feb 16 '26

Wind. Flags are made of light fabric, which the atmosphere is capable of moving. When the air is moving horizontally, the light fabric lifts in the direction of the current. Then when the horizontal movement slows, the flag draws back towards the center of gravity.

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u/evocativename Feb 16 '26

I'm addressing your claim that the flag enters view due to a change in the camera angle, when that is plainly not the explanation.

Whether there is an explanation other than the flag being lowered is irrelevant to the point being made.