A Marine veteran snatched a burning American flag from protesters Thursday just before President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” on the National Mall.

WATCH:

Footage of White House flag burning ahead of Trump’s #SaluteToAmerica A man who identified himself as a veteran grabbed the burned flag #FourthofJuly pic.twitter.com/nJdWlMpdKp — Steven Nelson (@stevennelson10) July 4, 2019

As the flag erupted in flames, a man wearing a sleeveless “Make America Great Again” shirt and a MARPAT (Marine pattern) bucket hat charged the group and grabbed the burning flag with his bare hands. He whipped it away from the protesters and attempted to put out the fire.

He continued to yell back at the protesters while holding onto the scorched flag.

Someone asked the man if he was a veteran, and he pointed to the USMC tattoo on his shoulder, responding simply, “Yes! Semper fi.”

The group of protesters, all wearing Revolutionary Communist Party shirts that read “BA Speaks: Revolution, Nothing Less,” linked arms and began chanting, “America was never great.” (RELATED: D-Day Veteran Flirts With Melania In Front Of Trump)

Following the flag-burning, several skirmishes broke out between protesters and Trump supporters, resulting in two arrests. A statement from the U.S. Secret Service indicated that two agents were injured while making those arrests.

Another fight breaks out between pro-Trump people and the American flag burning group in front of the White House. pic.twitter.com/jfBcCxlYiw — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 4, 2019

Secret Service just released this statement on US Flag burning near the White House. 2 arrested & 2 @SecretService Officers suffered minor injuries during arrests. @ABC7News #7OYS pic.twitter.com/l4TOnENOmv — Scott Taylor ABC 7 (@ScottTaylorTV) July 4, 2019

Access to Lafayette Square was temporarily cut off by members of the U.S. Secret Service in the wake of the fighting and arrests.

Secret Service closed access to Lafayette Square after a fight broke out during a flag burning protest. https://t.co/9yKSaWieZ5 pic.twitter.com/CfQzG0vP6z — DCist (@DCist) July 4, 2019

Despite periods of rain, the “Salute to America” was well-attended and included a flyover from the U.S. Navy’s famed Blue Angels and Marine One.

Looking back from Lincoln Memorial to crowd along both sides of the Reflecting Pool. Camera platform in the middle. pic.twitter.com/GqfSouTyw7 — Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 4, 2019