According to WCCO-TV, Brian Nielsen, 43, displayed the flag, along with an American flag, on the back of a Hartland Fire Department truck during the parade in Albert Lea on Friday. The department's chief, Trent Wangen, suspended Nielsen after the department started to receive negative attention, the station said.

Nielsen told WCCO that he is sorry for hurting the city and will resign if asked.

"It was my decision and I didn't think it was going to be a big deal, but boy was I wrong," Nielsen told The Associated Press.

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Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. It was the first day the Federal Aviation Administration cut flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com