President Donald Trump signed an executive order protecting the American flag from desecration, directing the Attorney General to prosecute those who destroy it.
“Our great American Flag is the most sacred and cherished symbol of the United States of America, and of American freedom, identity, and strength,” the order declares, explaining that thousands of soldiers have “fought, bled, and died to keep the Stars and Stripes waving proudly.”
“The American Flag is a special symbol in our national life that should unite and represent all Americans of every background and walk of life,” the order continues, stating that destroying it not only “uniquely offensive and provocative,” but is a “statement of contempt, hostility, and violence against our Nation — the clearest possible expression of opposition to the political union that preserves our rights, liberty, and security.”
Discussing First Amendment protections, the order adds that the Supreme Court “has never held that American Flag desecration conducted in a manner that is likely to incite imminent lawless action or that is an action amounting to ‘fighting words’ is constitutionally protected.”
Trump officials are to “deny, prohibit, terminate, or revoke visas, residence permits, naturalization proceedings, and other immigration benefits, or seek removal from the United States,” among those desecrating the American flag, “whenever there has been an appropriate determination that foreign nationals have engaged in American Flag-desecration activity under circumstances that permit the exercise of such remedies pursuant to Federal law.”
Upon signing the order, President Trump declared, “You burn a flag, you get one year in jail.”
“You don’t get ten years, you don’t get one month. You get one year in jail, and it goes on your record, and you will see flag-burning stopping immediately,” he said.
