A former Donald Trump official sparked ridicule online after he complained the towers of the Washington Post building were lit up in the colors of the Palestinian flag.
On the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, Gabriel Noronha said: "On the last night of Hanukkah, the Washington Post building appears to be lit up in the colors of the Palestinian flag."
Noronha apparently failed to realize the green, red and white lights of One Franklin Square in downtown Washington, D.C., were on show because of the Christmas holiday season.
The Palestinian flag incorporates what are known as the Pan-Arab colors, three of which, red, white and green, happen to be the same colors commonly used to spread festive cheer.
Newsweek has approached Noronha via his X account for comment and also approached the Post via email.
"Bro it's for Christmas," conservative author Matt Palumbo tweeted in response to Norohna.
"From the river to the North Pole," another Twitter user joked, referencing the controversial pro-Palestinian political slogan "from the river to the sea" that critics suggest has genocidal undertones.
One account even tweeted a cartoon picture of Santa Claus in response to Noronha with the caption: "Everyone should be on the lookout for for this notorious Hamas operative."
Everyone should be on the lookout for for this notorious Hamas operative pic.twitter.com/xjWlV31yi9
— AbuOlive (@AbuOlive) December 15, 2023
Helpfully, one account referenced a Getty Images picture from 2016 that showed the two Post spires lit up in red, white and green.
Noronha saw the funny side, posting a poll that allowed X users to decide what the Post was "paying homage to." The choices are "Christmas" and "Hamas."
He later added: "I really hope Christmas v Hamas is the new blue v gold dress debate. It's the culture war we deserve in 2023."
Noronha gained attention for his comments as a staffer in the State Department during the Trump administration. In the wake of the attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob on January 6, 2021, Norohna said Trump was "entirely unfit for office."
His tweet, which got him fired, said: "President Trump fomented an insurrectionist mob that attacked the Capitol today. He continues to take every opportunity to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power. These actions threaten our democracy and our Republic. Trump is entirely unfit to remain in office, and needs to go."
He added: "All government officials swear to uphold and defend the constitution. That is where our loyalties must lie—not to any man or political party. Joe Biden has won the election for President and we must all work together to rebuild our economy and defend our nation."
Trump faces 91 charges across four criminal indictments in Georgia, Florida, Washington, D.C. and New York.
The charges in the American capital relate to an investigation of the January 6 attack and Trump's alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. He denies the charges.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Benjamin Lynch is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is U.S. politics and national affairs and he ... Read more
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