Footage posted to X captured multiple TV screens inside the North Carolina booth displaying a Confederate flag alongside state imagery such as a NASCAR car. The pavilion was run by private organizations after the state opted not to participate, and the clip circulated widely.
Visitors and social posts criticized the inclusion, saying the Confederate emblem is not the state flag. North Carolina’s governor Josh Stein’s office said the display "does not reflect the North Carolina that we love" and called on organizers to stop honoring the divisive symbol. A booth spokesperson told reporters the flag image was "unapproved," that the video was removed, and that a review began.