Trump Signs Executive Order Protecting American Flag from Desecration

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

WASHINGTON D.C. (Worthy News) – President Donald J. Trump on Monday signed a sweeping Executive Order designed to prosecute acts of flag desecration “to the fullest extent permissible” and to deny immigration benefits to foreign nationals found guilty of burning or defacing the American flag.

The order directs the Attorney General to vigorously pursue litigation clarifying the scope of First Amendment protections in cases involving flag desecration. It also instructs the Justice Department to refer such cases to state and local authorities where applicable, and authorizes federal agencies to revoke visas, naturalization proceedings, and other immigration benefits when foreign nationals are determined to have engaged in desecrating the U.S. flag.

“Desecrating the American flag is uniquely and inherently offensive,” the order states, describing the act as “a statement of contempt and hostility toward our Nation.” The administration cited recent incidents, including June 2025 protests in Los Angeles where flag burnings were reportedly accompanied by violent conduct, as justification for the move.

Trump has consistently denounced flag burning throughout his political career, labeling it “disgraceful.” Monday’s order follows a series of symbolic and policy steps taken by the president to strengthen national pride, including banning the display of non-U.S. flags at American diplomatic facilities abroad, protecting monuments from vandalism, and launching patriotic initiatives such as the America 250 Commission to celebrate the nation’s history.

The issue of flag desecration has long stirred controversy in U.S. law and culture. The Supreme Court has held that flag burning is generally protected under the First Amendment, but has also recognized exceptions when conduct is intended to incite imminent violence or constitutes “fighting words.”

In a notable example, an Iowa man was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2019 for burning a rainbow Pride flag stolen from a church, after being convicted under state hate crime laws. Though his sentence was later reduced on appeal, the case underscored the complex intersection of free speech, hate crime statutes, and symbolic acts of protest.

Trump’s new directive attempts to draw a sharper legal distinction, asserting that flag desecration—particularly when tied to violent demonstrations or foreign influence—is not protected speech but a threat to public safety and national unity.

“The American flag is the most sacred and cherished symbol of the United States of America,” the order declares, adding that it represents the sacrifices of generations who “bled for our country” and serves as a unifying emblem for all Americans.

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