Reporters and internet jokesters alike took time Friday to poke fun at White House press secretary Sean Spicer's upside-down American flag pin, visible at the daily press briefing.

"John Roberts always helping with the fashion tips," Spicer said when Roberts pointed out the mistake.

"Is that a distress signal?" one reporter asked, shortly after the upturned American flag pin was brought to Spicer's attention.

The distress signal question is a jab at Title 36, U.S. Code, Chapter 10 which says the following:

"§ 176. Respect for flag: No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

"House of Cards," the Netflix political drama about a corrupt politician, uses the upside-down flag as its logo. Shortly after the mishap, the show's Twitter account thanked Sean Spicer.

@HouseofCards: Your loyalty has not gone unnoticed.

Other Twitter users took aim at Spicer, too.

@JamesMSama: Someone please rescue @seanspicer who is clearly signaling for help by wearing an American flag pin upside down. #SOS (Save Our Spicey)

@darth: I fixed your flag pin for u sean

@morninggloria: Sean Spicer's American flag pin is upside down. Upside down flag is a distress symbol. Headline: Metaphor Delivers Press Conference.

The entire flag debacle served as a welcome light moment in an otherwise tense briefing, as Spicer discussed controversial White House topics like health care.





