Staffers at CPAC quickly scrambled to confiscate Russian flags with the word "TRUMP" written on the front that were being waved by attendees during President Donald Trump's speech on Friday.
The trouble began when some attendees took out pro-Trump flags to wave during the president's speech that also happened to have the same white-blue-and-red striped pattern as Russia's official flag.
Reporter Peter Hamby notes that CPAC staffers quickly realized that its attendees were waving Russian flags, and moved to confiscate them.
Crowd at CPAC waving these little pro-Trump flags that look exactly like the Russian flag. Staffers quickly come ar… https://t.co/bbuOxaJj29— Peter Hamby (@Peter Hamby) 1487950446.0
A section of people in the back of #CPAC2017 waving Russian flags -- a staffer just came and demanded they all be h… https://t.co/BoASKZwLnS— Tim Alberta (@Tim Alberta) 1487950026.0
No joke, someone has been handing out Russian flags that say #Trump on them. And people are waving them. #CPAC2017 https://t.co/CDZS5oEqyL— Maya Shwayder (@Maya Shwayder) 1487949953.0
In addition to the attendees waving Russian flags, journalist Sarah Posner reports at least one attendee was spotted wearing a "Make Russia Great Again" t-shirt.
Spotted: A guy wearing a "Make Russia Great Again" t-shirt. #CPAC2017— Sarah Posner (@Sarah Posner) 1487952720.0
ABC News's Ali Rogin has also posted a photo of a larger version of the Russian Trump flag.
#CPAC https://t.co/Hb8JUxVfIm— Ali Rogin (@Ali Rogin) 1487953186.0
The flags were handed out by an anti-Trump activist named Ryan Clayton.
“Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to the U.S. Constitution and the American people,” Clayton, the leader of Americans Take Action, told PEOPLE. “That’s why Putin picked him for president, because he knows the Trump regime is good for Russian interests, not the American people. Trump is Putin’s puppet, a traitor to the United States, and must be impeached immediately.”
