A Black Lives Matter banner was removed from the facade of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on Monday, two days after it was unfurled in a show of solidarity with the anti-racism movement.

The banner and a smaller rainbow flag put up for Pride Month were replaced with a “We will not forget” banner, marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War.

An embassy spokesman said U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris, a retired Navy admiral, ordered it taken down to avoid the “misperception” that taxpayer dollars were used to support an organization.

“The Ambassador decided to put the Black Lives Banner up to communicate a message of solidarity with Americans concerned with racism, especially racial violence against African Americans,” the spokesman said. “He wanted to highlight the enduring American values of racial equality, freedom of speech, and the right to peacefully protest.

“However, the Ambassador’s intent was not to support or encourage donations to any specific organization. To avoid the misperception that American taxpayer dollars were spent to benefit such organizations, he directed that the banner be removed.”

Bloomberg News reported that the banner was removed after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Trump expressed their disapproval upon seeing news coverage of the two-story-tall banner hanging behind the main flagpole displaying the U.S. flag.

“This in no way lessens the principles and ideals expressed by raising the banner, and the Embassy will look for other ways to convey fundamental American values in these times of difficulty at home,” the embassy spokesman said.

The banner, which also was displayed on the embassy’s Web page, was the most dramatic and straightforward display of diplomatic sympathy with the underlying issues behind the Black Lives Matter protests. And its removal is likely to fuel frustrations among many career diplomats who are unhappy with Pompeo’s leadership at the State Department and his seeming reluctance to back them when Trump disparages their work.

(With input from the agencies)