‘Prefers whites only’: Trump’s rally preparations spark outrage as city refuses to accept his demand

Political rallies often involve elaborate preparations, particularly when the president of the United States comes to town. Security arrangements, campaign decorations and carefully positioned American flags are all part of the process.

However, preparations for Donald Trump’s latest campaign appearance in Iowa sparked an unexpected dispute over something that had been part of the local community for years.

The controversy unfolded at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, where Trump was scheduled to address supporters on Sunday ahead of the crucial midterm elections. Outside the city-owned venue hangs a large mural celebrating racial equality, diversity and solidarity.

But shortly before the president’s arrival, the artwork disappeared behind a large tarp. According to the venue’s management via local television station KCRG, the decision to cover the mural came from a White House team responsible for organizing presidential visits.

Local authorities were less than impressed.

City officials quickly ordered the covering removed, setting up an unusual confrontation between Trump’s advance team and the Iowa community hosting his rally.

Trump’s team wanted the mural hidden

The dispute began Saturday evening when a tarp was placed over the Solidarity mural on the exterior of the Five Flags Center.

The artwork, which has been displayed since 2020, features raised fists representing people of different racial backgrounds.

According KCRG, city officials became aware of the covering and immediately questioned why it had been installed.

Dubuque subsequently issued a statement explaining that the municipality had never approved the alteration.

The city instructed Oak View Group, the private company responsible for operating the publicly owned venue, to remove the tarp.

The company complied, and the covering was taken down later that same evening.

By the time doors opened for Trump’s rally at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, the mural was visible again.

The episode raised questions about why the White House wanted the artwork concealed in the first place.

The White House offered an unusual explanation

Scott Hallgren, general manager of the Five Flags Center for Oak View Group, told KCRG that the instruction originated with the White House’s Office of Presidential Advance.

The office handles logistical preparations for presidential appearances, including the visual presentation of venues.

According to Hallgren, the intention was to install exterior campaign branding and an American flag.

There was, however, a rather awkward detail.

The Solidarity mural was already surrounded by representations of the five flags that have historically flown over Dubuque, including the current American flag.

In other words, the building already featured the national symbol that the White House reportedly wanted to display.

Hallgren also explained that neither the venue, Oak View Group nor the city had authorized anyone to attach anything to the building’s exterior.

Dubuque officials confirmed that they had not been consulted about changing the appearance of the publicly owned facility.

The city subsequently pointed to the terms of the rental agreement.

“The facility rental agreement for the Sunday, Nov. 1, event does not include any authority to modify the exterior of the facility,” officials said in their statement.

The agreement therefore provided no permission for Trump’s organizers to cover the artwork.

The mural carries a powerful message

The artwork at the heart of the dispute is far more than an ordinary decoration.

Created by local artist Shelby Fry in 2020, the Solidarity mural depicts 10 raised fists in different skin tones, including Black, brown and white.

The wrists collectively spell out the word SOLIDARITY.

The painting also incorporates symbols associated with LGBTQ+ pride, disability rights, mental health awareness and gender diversity.

Fry developed the project with assistance from approximately 80 volunteers.

Its creation followed the widespread protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck in May 2020.

The artwork was intended to express unity and demonstrate support for people from different backgrounds.

Importantly, the mural was not installed without permission.

City officials, including Dubuque’s city manager and attorney, worked with Fry to secure approval for the painting on the municipal building.

At the time, then-Mayor Roy D. Buol publicly praised the project.

“This is an important and significant artistic expression, giving birth to a unified statement by the city of Dubuque,” he said in 2020.

The mural therefore represented a message the city had deliberately chosen to display, rather than something added without official approval.

Hallgren reiterated the venue management’s respect for the artwork following the controversy.

“We value and respect what this mural means to our community and to the citizens of Dubuque,” he said in a statement reported by KCRG.

Critics accuse Trump of trying to hide diversity

The decision to cover the mural quickly attracted criticism, particularly because of the Trump administration’s broader opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Trump has repeatedly criticized DEI programs, portraying them as divisive and ideologically driven.

His administration has also ordered the removal of certain displays concerning diversity and historical racism from federal museums and historic sites.

Against that background, the attempt to conceal Dubuque’s artwork prompted accusations that the decision was politically motivated.

Scott Horton, a contributing editor at Harper’s Magazine, criticized the incident in a post on Bluesky on Sunday morning.

“Trump insists on having Dubuque’s Solidarity Mural covered up so it can’t be seen during his visit,” Horton wrote.

He then offered a particularly pointed interpretation of the decision.

“The mural shows people of a variety of skin colors, whereas the Trump campaign prefers whites only.”

Horton’s accusation reflects his own criticism of the administration rather than an established explanation for the White House’s decision.

The account provided by the venue’s management attributed the covering to exterior branding plans, and the available information does not establish that Trump personally ordered the mural hidden.

Nevertheless, the controversy quickly became another flashpoint in the political debate over diversity and representation.

Democratic lawmaker praises the city’s response

Democratic Representative Eric Sorensen of Illinois also weighed in after the incident became public.

Writing on X on Sunday, Sorensen accused the administration of attempting to conceal the mural before Trump’s arrival.

“The Trump administration attempted to have this beautiful solidarity mural covered in Dubuque before the President could see it today,” he wrote.

He then praised local officials for intervening.

“I’m thankful the city (which owns the building) demanded the tarp be removed.”

The lawmaker’s comments reflected the growing criticism surrounding the episode.

For opponents of the administration, the incident appeared to illustrate the tension between Trump’s political messaging and public displays celebrating diversity.

For Dubuque officials, however, the immediate issue was more straightforward.

The city owned the building, had approved the mural years earlier and had never given permission for anyone to cover it.

A campaign stop becomes a dispute over public art

The controversy unfolded during the final weekend before the midterm elections, when Trump was campaigning to help Republicans retain control of Congress.

With the president’s party facing competitive races across the country, his appearance in Dubuque was intended to energize supporters ahead of Election Day.

Instead, preparations for the rally generated headlines about a piece of public art outside the venue.

The disagreement also highlighted the limits of what presidential event organizers can change when using a publicly owned facility.

Although the White House team was responsible for preparing the president’s visit, the rental agreement did not give it unrestricted control over the building’s exterior.

Local officials acted accordingly, and the mural was uncovered before the rally began.

The White House’s reported explanation about adding an American flag has left critics unconvinced, particularly given that the artwork was already bordered by one.

Still, the available reporting does not establish whether the decision was motivated by the mural’s message or simply by the event team’s preferred visual arrangements.

What is clear is that Dubuque’s authorities insisted on keeping the artwork visible.

Trump’s campaign team arrived to prepare the venue for a presidential appearance, but the city ultimately had the final say over its own building.

And the mural celebrating solidarity remained on display for everyone arriving at the Five Flags Center.

This article is made and published by Nicolai H, who may have used AI in the preparation