Occoquan, VA—Andre Soriano, a prominent designer known for his “Make America Great Again” gown worn by Joy Villa at the 2017 Grammy Awards, found himself in an unusual confrontation recently after a local woman called the police over a Trump poster he displayed outside his boutique. The incident led to a court order requiring Soriano to remove his Trump-themed decorations from the storefront.
In an exclusive video interview with Fox News, Soriano spoke out, remarking, “I actually started a flag war here in Occoquan, Virginia.” He noted that despite initial support from some locals, he encountered what he described as “irrational” pushback against the patriotic décor adorning his store.
“Flag War” turns heated as Police are called
Soriano described the situation and explained that he initially placed the Trump dress outside to avoid direct confrontation, saying, “The reason I put my Trump dress outside is so I don’t have to encounter [this].”
Soriano then reached out to a friend and political activist, Audra Johnson, who arrived to lend support and captured the scene on video, later sharing it on social media. “I have a video of her hiding in a bush,” Johnson recounted to an American news channel. “I don’t know what she was doing,” she added, referring to the woman who allegedly contacted the police. According to Soriano and Johnson, the woman was visibly upset and had a breakdown on the street, leading officers to escort her from the storefront to a nearby restaurant to “calm her down.”
“Freedom of artistic expression is at stake,” says Soriano
Soriano argued that artistic and political expression should be protected, citing the First Amendment: “As an American citizen, as a First Amendment in our great nation, you can express yourself by putting your signs in your home and expressing who you are as an individual, whether it’s religion, whether it’s politics or anything that you feel, without harming anyone,” he stated. Soriano expressed dismay at what he sees as a diminishing tolerance for artistic freedom in the United States.
The situation escalated further when both Johnson and Soriano, who reside in apartments above the boutique, were issued notices suspending them from their residences until the Trump signs were removed. Soriano expressed frustration with the directive, stating, “We’re just trying our hardest to not get fines we can’t pay,” and added that they were making every effort to comply with local regulations.
From the Philippines to Hollywood: Soriano’s journey and celebrity feuds
Soriano, originally from the Philippines, shared that his family moved to the United States during his teenage years in pursuit of the “American Dream.” His career gained significant momentum following the high-profile 2017 Grammy appearance of his MAGA gown, bringing him into the Hollywood limelight. Reflecting on his experiences in the entertainment industry, Soriano noted the polarizing views on Trump, stating that some Hollywood personalities remain “very divisive” and have “never liked Trump.”