Flag of the president of the United States
Flag of the president of the United States
The flag shows the presidential seal on a dark blue field. It uses the same seal as the president’s emblem, but its history is separate. The current flag has been in use since 1960 and reflects the 50-state version of the United States.
What it looks like
- A dark blue rectangle with the Coat of Arms of the President in color at the center. Around the eagle is a ring of stars (used to reflect the number of states; it has been updated as states were added).
- The flag’s size and proportions can vary with military and naval customs.
- The design is to appear on both sides, but the reverse side is a mirror of the front, except the motto reads left to right on both sides.
How it’s used
- It is often displayed near the president in official photos, flown on the president’s motorcade, and shown at official funeral processions with the casket.
- The flag is not flown at half-staff because there is always a president in office.
- It does not replace the U.S. flag on the White House flagpole; the national flag always flies there, whether the president is present or not.
History in brief
- In the 19th century, various flags were used to represent the president, created by the Navy and Army at different times.
- 1882: The Navy adopted a blue flag with the United States arms, first used by President Arthur.
- Late 19th–early 20th century: The Army and Navy had separate presidential flags at times.
- 1916: A unified design with a white eagle and four corner stars was adopted.
- 1945: President Truman standardized the flag with a full-color eagle and a surrounding ring of stars (52 or 48 stars, depending on the count for that period).
- 1959–1960: Alaska and Hawaii added stars, bringing the total to 50; the current design has been in use since 1960.
Legal note
- It is illegal to reproduce or sell the flag of the president because it reproduces the president’s seal.
Design and development
- The flag’s current design was developed to reflect the president’s seal on a blue field, with specifications issued by the government.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:23 (CET).